Core Functions, Training, Skills and Expertise of P.H. Professionals

Flashcards covering the definitions, principles, core functions, and essential services of environmental health as presented by Bakary Ndow.

Environmental Health (1989 WHO definition)

Comprising of those aspects of human health and disease that are determined by factors in the environment.

Environmental Health (1993 WHO European Member States definition)

Aspects of human health, including quality of life, that are determined by physical, biological, social and psycho-social factors in the environment.

Environmental Health Time Phases

The three stages of environmental health work: repair past damage, control present risk, and prevent future problems.

Equity (Principle 2)

A core and primary element underpinning environmental health action, recognizing that the poor bear a disproportionate share of the global burden of ill-health and suffering.

Assessment (Core Function)

The public health function involved in monitoring health status to identify community problems and diagnosing/investigating health hazards.

Policy Development (Core Function)

The public health function involved in informing/empowering people, mobilizing community partnerships, and developing plans that support health efforts.

Assurance (Core Function)

The public health function involved in enforcing laws, linking people to services, assuring a competent workforce, and evaluating effectiveness.

Primary Prevention

Eliminating risk factors for a disease to prevent the development of disease and occurrence of injury, focusing on reducing incidence in the population.

Secondary Prevention

Early detection and treatment of disease (subclinical and clinical) to ensure there are no permanent adverse consequences.

Tertiary Prevention

Eliminating or moderating disability associated with advanced disease through optimum treatment of clearly identified clinical disease.

Environmental Health Stressors

Features of the environment that may induce harm in or damaging responses to a living system or organism.

Biological Stressor

Elements of the natural and man-made world presenting risk through ingestion, inhalation, inoculation, or physical contact, or influencing biological systems to the detriment of humans.

Chemical Stressor

Chemical entities or intermediates that expose humans to risk through ingestion, inhalation, inoculation, or absorption and interfere with biological systems.

Physical Stressor

Measurable physical manifestations induced naturally or by human activity that impact health through damaging effects on cells, tissues, organs, and homeostatic systems.

Social Stressor

Behaviors associated with human life resulting from community settlement and habitation that impact health and well-being.

Psychosocial Stressor

Attitudes of mind and mental processes that may have an adverse impact on the health of a person or community.

Operational Skill: Assess

Being aware of and able to practice analytical skills that form the basis of professional judgement.

Operational Skill: Enforce

Being able to use the full range of mechanisms for securing compliance with legislative provisions, statutory requirements, and standards.

Operational Skill: Advocate

Being able to support, promote, and campaign on a range of issues.

Operational Skill: Research

The ability to discover and use information sources, critically assess options, and undertake research exercises from planning to report stages.