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Editorial
Regardless provider, need remains for public health agencies
Friday, March 29, 2013
The question of how best to provide health care services has been controversial for years, all the way from "Obamacare" on the national level to the question of the role of local and regional health departments, which fills a good portion of the rest of this page today.
What shouldn't be lost in the controversy is the important role public health departments play in our society.
That's what local health departments, including the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department, are trying to point out during National Public Health Week, next week, April 1-7.
This year, the SWNPHD is focusing on some simple steps to prevent illness.
"National Public Health Week helps educate Nebraskans about ways to live healthier lives," said Myra Stoney, SWNPHD director in a news release. "Health care costs are rising and in many cases, these costs are increasing because preventive measures are not being taken to eliminate future costs. This week we are encouraging residents of Southwest Nebraska to get active, use good handwashing skills, and cover your cough."
The department is encouraging residents to join in community walks being held in McCook, Grant, Imperial and Trenton on Monday. Check out a story on page two in today's paper or visit website at www.swhealth.ne.gov, or follow on Facebook or Twitter.
The promotion is only one example of the ways local public health departments serve the community by fulfilling certain roles.
Those include monitoring disease and collecting data to make sure decision makers have the tools they need to address health problems, diagnose and investigate health problems and hazards and find ways to prevent and control epidemics and contain diseases and injuries, mobilize community partnerships to health with problems, enforce laws and regulations that protect health and safety, and link people to the health care services they need or provide services that are otherwise unavailable.
Regardless which agency provides the service and how those services are paid for, there will always be a role for public health departments in our communities.