CDC Public Health Agency

Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of families and communities through the promotion of healthy lifestyles, the search for disease and injury prevention, detection and control of infectious diseases.

Overall, public health is concerned with protecting the health of entire populations. These populations can be as small as a local or large area as an entire country or region.

Health workers are trying to avoid or recurring problems through the implementation of educational programs, recommending policies, services and research administration - unlike clinical professionals such as doctors and nurses, which focus mainly on treating people after they become sick or injured. Public health is also working to reduce health disparities. Much of the public health promotes equity in health, quality and accessibility.
CDC is the public health agency before our nation.

newborn screeningThe CDC is the agency for the prevention and promotion of the welfare of the nation, the protection and safety of human health disease, providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and improving health through strong partnerships. The CDC work includes a wide range of threats to health, including infectious and chronic diseases, injuries, birth defects, food and water security, bioterrorism, environmental risks and Health at Work and safety. CDC also manages the funding of state and local health departments, community organizations and educational institutions for a wide range of public health programs and research. Every day, CDC experts are working both behind the scenes and on the front lines to improve the daily lives and responding to public health emergencies. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has about 14,000 full-time employees, part-time contracts and are located in the United States and in 54 countries.

CDC works with partners around the world to:

    monitor the health,
    detect and investigate health problems,
    conduct research to improve the prevention,
    develop and promote a public health policy,
    implement prevention strategies,
    promoting healthy behaviors,
    promote healthy and safe environments,
    provide leadership and training.