Public Health and Social Services

Abstract

Public health services are having to meet new and changing needs in the modern developed society. In comparison with modern needs, those of the past, such as providing clean water and food, sanitation and control of epidemics, appear straightforward to those of today. Modern public health services are now tackling the challenges of prevention and alleviation of disorders of degeneration and ageing and they are endeavouring to educate their populations towards self-help and healthier living — the detrimental effects of the cigarette-smoking habit and the problems of its control are a particular modern example. They are concerned in providing services for the physically and mentally handicapped. They are involved in community care and welfare for certain recognised vulnerable groups such as expectant mothers, children, the mentally sick, the tuberculous and the elderly, but the increasing frequency and diversity of social pathology in our modern society with conditions such as drug taking and alcoholism, adolescent delinquency, promiscuity and illegitimacy are creating new tasks for public health services. In some places the Medical Officer of Health is developing as an epidemiologist, administrator, and planner of medical care.