Importance of Health Care

In the early 1800, public officials were making collective efforts to control communicable diseases such as smallpox, yellow fever, cholera, typhoid, and measles. In order to reduce the presence of communicable diseases, quarantine measures often became law. People who were contaminated were placed in isolation in order to avoid spreading the disease. The education and training of health care workers during this time lacked strong controls and regulations. The hospitals were not cleaned and they were considered of a place to go to die. By the late 1800, a number of vaccines and serums were developed in order to protect the public against contagious disease. Many health professionals have attempted to define health, which is very broad. Physical health is perceived as the normal functioning of the body†s cells, organs, and systems. Mental health is characterized by an ability to deal constructively with reality. Social health has to do with education status, crime rates, poverty, and divorce. Spiritual health is giving and receiving love, trust, joy, and peace; having a sense of selflessness, honor, integrity and sacrifice for others. Several factors must be considered in dealing with health problems in a community. Geography, topography, social and cultural factors along with tradition and social norms have significant impact on the community. Despite marvelous advances in medical technology, health care is limited or even nonexistent for many Americans. That†s the reason why in 1977, the World Health Organization recognized the need for Health for All by the Year 2000†³ an unusually optimistic goal. Poverty keeps individuals from obtaining needed health care services. The United States is the only major western country that does not have comprehensive health care for all its citizens.