Public Health
County public health jurisdictions have protected the health of the
residents of Washington State since long before statehood. The health
issues of 100 years ago were appropriately handled at the local level.
Today the complexity and mobility of disease and contamination require a
strong public health system, which is accountable, accessible and
adequately funded. Public health is the front line of defense against
diseases transmitted to people from insects, animals, persons, and
environmental conditions such as food, water, air and soil. Public
Health responsibilities include disease control and prevention, assuring
safe food, water – drinking and recreational -- management of hazardous
and solid waste, safe sewage treatment, teaching parenting skills and
good nutrition for healthier families and children, and equipping people
with the information and tools they need to make healthy choices.
The Public Health system has new demands imposed by emerging diseases
and threats such as SARS, Hepatitis B and C, E.coli, meth labs,
bioterrorism, anthrax, monkey pox, West Nile Virus, and Avian Flu, while
at the same time maintaining ongoing response to the “old” diseases. For
example, there is resurgence in tuberculosis, measles and whooping
cough. Under Homeland Security, public health is expected to increase
its capacity to respond effectively to threats of bioterrorism through
such things as shifting from passive to active surveillance and
developing rapid response capability. Disease outbreaks and real or
perceived bioterrorism events are local events first, but can rapidly
spread beyond jurisdictional boundaries.
Without public support of local public health activities, a society is
not only irresponsible, but at risk of imminent harm. Local government
has historically stepped up to the challenge of supporting local public
health. While the state has contributed some support, the counties’
ability to support public health has been dangerously eroded.
WSAC Policy:
Additional resources are needed at every level to address public health
issues, including the integration and coordination of multi-county
efforts. WSAC supports maximizing the flexibility of existing sources of
funding and enhancement of both efficiency and effectiveness in service
delivery. WSAC also supports efforts to reduce the individual, family,
community, economic, social and political impacts of diseases whether
from infections passed from person to person, as with SARS or TB, or
from environmental and lifestyle issues such as Type 2 diabetes,
childhood obesity, cancers, methamphetamine and other illicit drug use,
food poisoning, and water quality. Finally, WSAC supports the authority
of local boards of health to set countywide public health policy, enact
and enforce local public health regulations, and prevent and control the
spread of disease.
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