Local health departments are primarily geared to prevent disease before it occurs and provide services to help people protect their health and educate people about how to lead more healthy lifestyles.

These services are vital for the health of the community because the focus is not treating sick people, but getting people to live healthy so they will not become sick.

At one time health agencies were most concerned with the outbreak of communicable disease, but they have been so successful with inoculation and education programs that many of the other ills facing society have fallen under the umbrella of health services.

All of us – black and white, rich and poor, young and old – are healthier because of the services provided by health departments.

More people need to become aware of the vital work being done by local health agencies – from home health care to educational programs for those at risk for chronic or preventable medical conditions.

The true front line in the battle against all things malignant to human health is at the local health department.

Physicians and hospitals, though also vital components of a healthy community, are frequently called upon to deal with health problems that have cropped up because sound advice from health services was not heeded – allowing a breach in the line that must be fixed by invasive treatment rather than sensible living.

Regardless of your station in life, you should be familiar with what the health agency that serves you has to offer.

It will be an eye-opening experience if you’ve never considered what the health agencies provide to the community on a daily basis.