1. Public health organizations
Dr. Anjum Odhwani MD, MPH

2. Types of Organizations
Governmental Health Agencies
Quasi Governmental Health Agencies
Nongovernmental Health Agencies

3. Governmental Health Agencies
International Health Agencies
National Health Agencies
State Health Agencies
Local Health Agencies

4. International Health Agencies
World Health Organization
- Headquarter is located in Geneva,
Switzerland
- 6 Regional Offices around the world
- Organization began its work on April 7,
1948
- Organization is under the control of a
Director General and 5 Assistant
Directors-general plus staff

5. World Health Organization
World Health Assembly is the governing
body that is made up of delegates from
all member nations and meets at least
once a year
At the beginning of 2001, 191 countries were members

6. World Health Organization
Primary objective
Is the attainment by all peoples of the best possible level of health
4 Major functions
- Give worldwide guidance in the field of health
- Set global standards for health
- Co-operate with governments to strengthen
national health programs
- Develop and transfer health technology,
information and standards

7. World Health Organization
Some of the major programs
Eradication of smallpox
Eradication of polio
Health For All (HFA) – started in 1978
HFA seeks to create the conditions where people
have as a fundamental human right, the opportunity
to reach and maintain the highest attainable level of
health. The vision of a renewed HFA policy builds on
the WHO constitution, the experience of the past and
need for the future.
people have as a fundamental human right, the opportunity to reach and maintain the highest attainable level of health.

8. International Health Agencies
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
- Founded in 1946
Objectives
Building a protective environment for children
Quality basic education for all, especially girls, adolescent opportunities
HIV/AIDS Prevention, parent-to-child transmission, care and support, orphaned children
Reaching every child with life-saving vaccines
The best start in life

9. International Health Agencies
Pan American Health Organization
- Founded in 1902
- Still an independent organization but
integrated into a regional office
- It serves as the specialized organization for
health of the Inter-American System.
- Also serves as the Regional Office for the
Americas of the World Health Organization
and enjoys international recognition as part of
the United Nations system.

10. National Health Agencies
Department of Health and Human Services
- Headed by the Secretary of HHS who is
appointed by the President and is a member
of president’s cabinet
- Budget is more than 400 billion dollars a year
(20% of the Federal Budget)
- 3rd largest department in the government
- 12 Operating divisions and 10 Regional
offices

12. Department of Health and Human Services
HHS is the department most involved with the Nation’s human concerns
It is department of people serving people, from newborn infants to elderly
Touches the lives of more Americans than any other federal agency

13. Department of Health and Human Services
8 of the 12 operating divisions constitute Public Health Services
Agency for Healthcare, Research and Quality
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Institutes for Health (NIH)
Food and Drug Administration
Health Resources and Services Administration
Indian Health Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

14. National Health Agencies
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Mission of the EPA
is to protect human health and the environment
Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people

15. National Health Agencies
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
OSHA's mission
is to assure the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards
providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health

16. State Health Departments
All 50 states have their own state health department
Purpose
- To promote, protect and maintain the health
and welfare of their citizens

17. State Health Departments
Organization
- Head is a medical doctor who is a
political appointee and is often called a
Commissioner
- Has Assistant Commissioners and
Division Chiefs under him (often also
political appointees)

18. State Health Departments
10 Core Functions that fall into 4 headings
Assessment
-Monitor Health
- Diagnose and Investigate Health Problems
Policy Development
- Inform, educate and empower people about
health issues
- Mobilize community partnerships
- Develop policies and plans

19. State Health Departments
Assurance
- Enforce laws
- Link people to needed personal health
services
- Assure a competent public health and person
health care workforce
- Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility and
quality of personal and population based
health services
Research
For new insights and innovation solution to
health problems

20. State Health Departments
Typical Divisions
- Administration
- Communicable Disease
Prevention and Control
- Chronic Disease
- Vital and Health
Statistics
- Environmental health
- Health Education or
Promotion
- Maternal and Child
health services
-Mental health
- Occupational and industrial health
- Dental health
- Laboratory services
- Public Health Nursing
- Veterinary Public Health

21. State Health Departments
Roles of State Health Departments
-Establish and promulgate health
regulations
-Provide an essential link between local
and national health agencies

22. State Health Departments
Roles of State Health Departments
Distribute federal and state funds to the
local agencies in accordance with
agreed priorities
Link local needs with national resources
Approve appointments of local health
officers and remove any who neglect
their duties

23. Local Health Agencies Local health departments (LHDs)
County health departments
City health department
Nationwide there are 2,850 LHDs

24. Local Health Agencies Local health departments (LHDs)
LHDs provides health services to the people of the communities
Funding for programs comes from local property taxes, some receive state and federal tax dollars and fee-for-service basis

25. Local health departments (LHDs)
Mandated local health services
- Inspection of restaurants and public
buildings
- Public transportation systems
- The detection and reporting of certain
diseases
- The collection of vital statistics such as
birth and deaths

26. Local health departments (LHDs)
Other types of services provided
- Safety belt programs
- Immunization clinics

27. Local health departments (LHDs)
Organization of LHDs
Board
Health ___________ Health Officer
Commissioner (Physician)
____________________________________________________________________
Environmental Health Nursing Vital Chronic Communicable
Health Education Statistics Disease Diseases

28. Local health departments (LHDs)
Powers of Local Health Officer
Local health officer, who is usually a physician, has far reaching powers including but not limited to the following:
- Power to arrest someone who resists
quarantine for an infectious disease
- Power to close a restaurant on the spot for
serious health law violations
- Power to impound a shipment of
contaminated food

29. Local health departments (LHDs)
Coordinated School Health Programs
Three essential components
- Comprehensive school health education
- Healthy school environment
- Health services

30. Quasi-Governmental Health Organizations
Introduction:
-These are organizations that have some official health responsibilities but operate like voluntary health organizations.
-These derive some of their funding from the federal government, but also are funded by donations and operate independent of governmental supervision.

31. Quasi-Governmental Health Organizations
American Red Cross
Founded in 1881 by Clara Barton
it has responsibilities placed on it by the government
The President of the United States is its honorary chairman
It is funded by voluntary contributions.

32. American Red Cross Official Duties
Act as official representatives of the federal government during natural disasters such as flood, tornadoes, hurricanes and fires
Serving as liaison between members of the active armed forces and their families during emergencies

33. American Red Cross Other Duties Blood drives and blood collection
Safety services
Nursing and health services
Youth services
Community volunteer services
International services

34. Quasi-Governmental Health Organizations
National Science Foundation
Purpose
Funding and promotion of scientific research and development of individual scientists
It receives and disperse federal funds but operates independently

35. Quasi-Governmental Health Organizations
National Academy of Sciences
Chartered by Congress
Acts as an advisor to the government on questions of science and technology
Funds projects, publish reports and take public stands on health related issues

36. Nongovernmental Health Agencies
Funded by private donations or in some cases by membership dues
Agencies operate free from governmental interference as long as they meet Internal Revenue Service guidelines regarding their specific tax status

37. Nongovernmental Health Agencies
Voluntary Health Agencies
Professional Health Organizations/ Associations
Philanthropic Foundations
Service, social and religious organizations
Corporate Involvement in Community Health

38. Voluntary Health Agencies
Examples
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
American Lung Association
American Cancer Society
American Heart Association

39. Professional Health Organizations/ Associations
Examples
American Chiropractic Association
American Medical Association
American Dental Association
Texas Chiropractic Association

40. Philanthropic Foundations
Examples
Rockefeller foundation
Ford Foundation
Aga Khan development network

41. Service, social and religious organizations
Examples
Lions club
Rotary club
United Jewish Appeal
Protestants’ One Great Hour of Sharing
The Catholics’ Relief Fund

42. Corporate Involvement in Community Health