Role of Government in Protecting Health & Safety-Myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about the role of government in promoting healthy practices for their citizens. Answer: Response The role of government in promoting healthy practices for their citizens is justifiable and can be supported by the fact that, health systems are gradually grappling with the effects of communicable and chronic diseases (Frieden 2013). Prevention of the reemerging of the deadly diseases depends on the initiatives taken up by the government such as proper vaccination programs, waste and sewage management programs. It has been rightly stated that mandatory immunization rules set up by the government can bring fruitful outcomes in the prevention of several viral diseases. Other governmental actions that have a wide spread implication on public health are fluoridation of water, iodization of salt and micronutrient fortification of the flour. Many of the interventions were initially controversial is widely accepted today (Kickbusch and Gleicher 2012). The mandatory immunization programs by the government can be supported by the fact that India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria has been declared as a polio free country after the extensive polio eradication campaigns and the measures taken up by the government of the concerned countries (Kickbusch and Gleicher 2012). Paternalistic approach taken up by the government may raise questions on individual autonomy but initiatives taken by the government on behalf of the masses such as tobacco control campaigns, High excise taxation on tobacco and alcohol are quite justifiable and are solely made for the public health (Frieden 2013). Furthermore, the government's initiative in the management of wastes can be supported by the evidence that the government of Canada have undertaken measures for the safe handling, transport and disposal of pre-hospital care from persons confirmed with Ebola virus disease. Such measures have prevented the spread of the virus in the community (Kickbusch and Gle icher 2012). It can be said that all the potential health benefits of the different public health action involve health care, economic and productivity gains along with the benefit of healthier and longer lives. References Frieden, T.R., 2013. Government's role in protecting health and safety.New England Journal of Medicine,368(20), pp.1857-1859. Kickbusch, I. and Gleicher, D., 2012. Governance for health in the 21st century. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe.