Public Health Explored

50 Stories to Change the World

By (author) John Ashton

Publication date:

12 April 2021

Publisher

Critical Publishing

Dimensions:

234x156mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9781913453930

An understanding of public health has never been more important!

There has been a growing interest in public health, driven by concerns for social justice and sustainability, but it is currently in the headlines as never before. The failure of governments to get to grips with the Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated widespread ignorance of the basics of a public health approach to threats to health and well-being.

Relevant to all interested individuals but particularly students and professionals within nursing, medicine, social work and public health, this book encourages critical debate and reflection to develop a deep understanding of the complexities of public health issues. It offers 50 powerful stories and sayings around public health that could just change the world! Accompanied by searching questions for discussion and case studies that provide context and link each aphorism to a key event or theme, important messages around public health are extracted and explored.

Introduction

Section 1: Concepts

Defining the problem
On forgetting your principles
The world is a fast flowing river
Elephants on a train in Africa
Elephants and the prevention of infant deaths
Eating an elephant
The age of Hygieia
William Morris on health
‘Doing health’: reclaiming the ‘H’ word
Foreseeing and forestalling

Section 2: Issues

A fish is the last one to see the water
Not invented here
Listen to the community
Beware of healthism
Go to the people
Conspiracies against the laity
We’re doing it already
Prophets are never recognised in their own country
Professionals should be on tap not on top
Primum non Nocere

Section 3: Getting to go

Less is usually more
Starting where they are
Don’t follow the yellow brick road
Caveat emptor
Community organisers beware
Self fulfilling prophecy kills
Politics is medicine on a large scale
Columbus on the need for strategy
Starting a rumour
Edwin Chadwick and The Times

Section 4: Making a difference

The half-life of evidence
Proof and evidence
The art and science of public health
On strategic underview
The hidden health care system
Be careful what you are selling
The conspiracy of silence
Achieving change
Let the dough rise slowly
A sense of place

Section 5: Reflections

Public health is an investment
William Henry Duncan’s establishment
On growing potatoes
Life and risk
The importance of humour
Killing with kindness
Every silver lining has a cloud
Making things happen
Success and failure
The dilemma of capital cities

“A fascinating and intriguing book, which has the potential to inspire and instigate debate and argument about the most pressing challenges we face as earthlings. Written with humour, seriousness and experience, it is an essential addition to public health learning and practice.”