Why health protection matters: our invisible safety net

Health protection is the collective effort to protect populations from infectious diseases, environmental hazards (chemical, radiological), and emergency situations. In simple terms, it’s our invisible safety net.

Like many public health endeavours, getting this right relies on a complex range of players. First, we need to see the issue: John Snow became famous for identifying the link between the water dispensed by the Broad Street Pump and cholera. Good detective work and on-going surveillance is the bedrock of health protection, helping us see emerging issues or spot where things are going off track.

Next, we need to put in place the safety net.