From the Editor
M. Shamsur Rahman
Our cover story this week is Public Health which is the science of protecting and improving the health of communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyle and research for diseases and injury prevention. Public health professionals analyse the effect on genetics, personal choices and the environment in order to develop programmes that protect the health of all family and community.
Overall, public health is concerned with protecting the health of entire population. The field of public health is highly varied and encompasses many academic disciplines. Public health, however, is mainly composed of the following core areas: Environmental Health, Bio-statistics, Behavioral Science/Health Education, Epidemiology, Health Services Administration and Management, Maternal and Child Healthcare, Nutrition, Public Health Policy, Public Health Practice, Hygiene and Sanitation.
Public health professionals try to prevent problems from or reoccurring through educational programmes, developing policies, administrating services and conducting research, in contrast to clinical professionals such as doctors and nurses, who focus primarily on treating individuals after they become sick or injured.
The dramatic achievements of public health in the 20th century have improved the quality of life; an increase in life expectancy, worldwide reduction in infant and child mortality, and the elimination or reduction of many communicable diseases. From time we wake up until we get home, public health impacts every area of our life.
