Public health refers to all public and private institutions that are charged with the prevention of diseases, promotion of healthy livelihoods and prolonging of life among populations within a community (Schneider, 2011). Public health institutions are also charged with improving the health of individuals in affected communities (Carter & Slack, 2010). One of the public health marketing campaigns is HIV prevention among individuals and married couples. This campaign targets both the young and the elderly within society. The message that public health organizations pass through this campaign is to promote HIV awareness, how individuals can protect themselves in order not to contract HIV and to stop further infections by infected victims.
Elements of the message include “One Test, Two Lives”. This campaign targets pregnant mothers within society. The campaign encourages pregnant mothers to test for HIV. Through this, the number of infected people shall have been controlled at birth since the status of the unborn child shall be known. Another campaign message is “Take Charge. Take The Test”. This campaign targets both the youth and the elderly to frequently go for HIV tests to enable them to know their status. Through testing, individuals can know their status and take the necessary measures as advised by health practitioners to either protect themselves from contracting the virus or stay positive for those who are already infected. Even so, the stigmatization of infected and affected individuals is discouraged.
Organizations responsible for these campaigns are both Government and non-governmental institutions charged with the prevention of diseases. These organizations not only concentrate on one disease that affects a particular community but spread the same message concerning other deadly diseases. Examples of organizations responsible for these campaigns are government hospitals, centres for disease control, voluntary counselling and testing centres among others. The core functions of public health are assessment, policy development and assurance (Schneider, 2011). Public health institutions should be able to identify health problems affecting a particular community, educate and empower people about health issues.
Public health institutions are delivering this message through social media where teenagers spend most of their time communicating with each other. Through social media, campaigns by public health institutions reach the targeted group. HIV is commonly spread among youths and married couples who have more than one active sexual partner. Public health institutions are also charged with the mandate to assist in reducing stigmatization within the community. Through this, the victims can accept their status and share their experiences with others without fear.
Among other responsibilities, public health organizations are charged with the mandate of preventing diseases and promoting healthy livelihoods among populations. HIV prevention campaigns promote existing policies for public health institutions by educating everyone about the dangers of the disease, how individuals can protect themselves from being infected, how the virus is contracted and spread. The absence of public health institutions can cause the spread of different diseases in communities (Carter & Slack, 2010). Public health institutions research particular diseases that affect a community and works on how to stop the disease from spreading to other people. The institutions also invent ways to cure the disease.
Additional agencies that can partner with the existing ones are initiatives formed by government institutions or individuals that campaign against discrimination and another deadly disease. Through the partnership, these separate parties can share, exchange ideas and help spread messages on how to stop the spread of other diseases. One of the main purposes of public health is to avoid the need for clinical treatment (Carter & Slack, 2010). Public health prevents the exposure of diseases and this in return prevents individuals from contracting particular diseases.
References
Carter, J. & Slack, M. (2010). Pharmacy in Public Health: Basics and Beyond. Bethesda: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
Schneider, M. (2011). Introduction to Public Health. London.: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.