6) Healthy Community

Pathogen

Transmission

• Bacteria, Virus, Parasites, Fungi

• Through: droplets, inhalation, ingestion, blood / body fluid

• Transmissibility, Pathogenicity, Virulence

First line – physical barriers such as intact skin and hair in nasal passage; chemical barriers such as tears and saliva

Second line – inflammatory response (affected area red, swollen, and warm)

Third line – immune response

• Primary response: the first time invaded by a certain pathogen which stimulates the body to produce antibodies.
• Secondary response: the invasion of the same type of pathogen which stimulates lymphocytes to produce much larger amount of antibodies and much more quickly.

Examples

• Diseases – Cancer, cardio-vascular diseases, heart diseases, diabetes mellitus
• Related health problems – strokes, obesity and hypertension

Lifestyle

• Sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy dietary practice, smoking, alcohol consumption

Primary

• Aim: avoiding the development of a disease or injury
• Examples: health education and vaccinations

Secondary

• Aim: early detection of diseases, thereby increasing opportunities for intervention to prevent the progression of the disease
• Examples: health check-ups (such as pre-marital check-up, antenatal check-up) and disease screening (such as colorectal cancer screening)

Tertiary

• Aim: proper rehabilitation of patients with an established disease to minimize residual disabilities and complications
• Examples: rehabilitation service

Policy making

• Example: tobacco control policy, food labelling and safety

Diseases prevention and surveillance

• Centre for Health Protection – keeps the community abreast of health risks through the issue of alerts and tracks changes in the risk profile and health determinants of the population

Control of the disease spreading

• Real time surveillance
• Rapid intervention
• Responsive risk communication

Public health promotion

• Territory-wide health promotion programmes such as “healthy eating”, “active living”

Resources management

• Mobilising resources and providing support for non-governmental organisations in health promotion and disease prevention