Public Health: What It Is and Why It Matters
Quisha Umemba 
Season 2 of The PublicHealthPreneur Podcast is out! Tune in as I introduce the concept of public health for entrepreneurs.
Public health is a diverse field, yet it all boils down to one core idea: improving the overall well-being of the community and individuals. Let's dive deeper into why public health is essential.
What is Public Health?
In a nutshell, public health is about protecting and improving the health of people and their communities.
Think of it like this: healthcare is about treating someone who’s already sick. It’s more reactionary in nature.
On the other hand, public health is about stopping people from getting sick in the first place. In contrast to general healthcare, public health is proactive.
It's like the difference between repairing a flat tire and preventing it through regular tire maintenance. Similarly, public health focuses on preventing illnesses through measures like vaccinations and clean water, while healthcare addresses health issues once they arise such as getting the flu or food poisoning — which are easily prevented.
It’s Bigger Than You Think
Public health covers a wide range of things. It encompasses several disciplines, like epidemiology, mental health, reproductive health, social sciences, healthcare management, biostatistics — to name just a few.
We’re talking about everything from tracking diseases (like that time we had to figure out where everyone was getting the flu) to making sure our water is clean, our air is safe to breathe, and our local businesses adhere to sanitation standards. It’s about creating healthy environments and making sure everyone has a fair chance at being healthy and has access to quality services.
Why Does it Matter?
It’s true — not a lot of people are interested in public health. Is it because people are more focused on getting better when they’re sick, instead of preventing disease in the first place?
The truth is, public health affects ALL of us. It’s about creating communities where everyone can thrive. When we talk about public health, we’re talking about things like:
Reducing health inequities: Making sure everyone has the same opportunities to be healthy — regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, or disability.
Preventing diseases: Stopping the spread of diseases before they become too difficult to handle. Think about the COVID pandemic! It was a major challenge for public health professionals, and until now we have not yet fully recovered from its effects.
Promoting healthy lifestyles: Helping people make healthy choices and live longer, happier lives.
Public Health is About People
One of the most important things about public health is that it’s all about PEOPLE. We work together to find solutions to health problems. It's about listening to communities and figuring out what works best for them.
Public health is a big topic indeed! Next week, we will explore more about the intersection of public health and entrepreneurship.
Get more insights on Public Health in the first episode of the all-new season of The PublicHealthPreneur Podcast!