Technology and faster travel are making the world smaller and smaller, which has only increased the importance of global public health jobs. Today, deadly diseases can travel from country to country in a matter of hours, thanks to international flights and high-speed trains that can actually transport infected passengers faster than the symptoms sent in. Other global health crises, like cancer and high rates of AIDS infections, require a global response in order to eradicate the most common killers of human beings regardless of location, socioeconomic status, or other factors. Global public health professionals are dedicated to public information, charitable work, and international aid, that helps to create a healthier global population, according to Global Health Hub. They do this in a few key roles.
Charitable Organizations Based Internationally
One of the best ways to keep people healthy around the world is simply to make sure that they’re educated on infectious diseases, health risks, and risky behavior, so that they can avoid the most common ways that disease and other health problems are transmitted. While governments can help with this distribution of information, the public sector is simply not the most efficient or cost-effective way to help educate people who live in far-away regions of their respective countries. Chartable organizations, on the other hand, can hire far more people, utilize community resources, and spread their message cohesively almost anywhere.
Many global public health professionals work for charitable organizations like the Global Health Trust, Make The Difference, and many others. They create print and electronic materials, visit countries with health problems are systemic and life threatening, and fill in the gaps left by limited national governments.
High-Level Research and Policy Work
While many public health experts like to get out in the field and provide information to large groups, many others prefer to perform research and help craft public health policy. They do this by working at places like the Centers for Disease Control, the Department of Health and Human Services, the United Nations, and the World Health Organization. Others work for leading research universities with a significant medical program, including Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, and the University of Texas at Austin’s medical center. In all cases, research can help lead to better public information campaigns that can, in turn, help aid workers convey their message more clearly to affected groups.
Work With Domestic or International Government Agencies
The United States is a leader when it comes to public health education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and that means that many graduates look abroad for jobs that help them leverage these skills in the service of other governments. Public health professionals from the United States have long pursued careers with African and Asian governments, while many others work in Asia either as government aides, policy advisors, or even professors. In all cases, their ability to inform the public of key health and safety risks has been well received by foreign officials.
Related Resource: Bioethics
Global Public Health Jobs Benefit Humanity as a Whole
The good health of global populations is the key to long-term survival on this planet, and those who pursue public health careers are doing a small part to enforce better health practices around the world. As problems like HIV, cancer, obesity, and even Ebola continue to gain attention, the necessity of global public health jobs will only continue to increase.