Public Health Office Providing community health services based on health promotion, disease prevention and education.

Public Health History

History of Public Health	Richland County Public Health History
Public Health Today

Public Health today faces a different challenge. With a decline in major acute infectious disease between 1900 and 1970, the proportion of mortality from chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke has increased by more than 25%. Cardiovascular disease accounts for about half of all deaths. Cancer is accountable for another 20%, and injuries account for a large number of deaths. We continue to fight new diseases such as AIDS, for which we do not possess effective methods of prevention and treatment.

Public Health today is aimed at preventing death and disability caused by these and other health hazards. We now know that personal habits related to smoking, drinking, diet, sleep, exercise, use of seat belts and so on significantly influences our health status. Public Health concerns itself with social changes which will help motivate people to make changes in their lifestyles. Changing norms, values, customs, and beliefs is a difficult and time consuming process, but it is the work of Public Health.

Although many entities in the public as well as the private sector engage in public health activities, the statutory authority and legal responsibility for assuring the health of the public in a defined jurisdiction rests solely on the Local Department and its Board of Health.

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Richland County Health and Human Services
Community Services Building - 221 West Seminary Street Richland Center, WI 53581
Phone: 608-647-8821 FAX: 608-647-6611

Richland County Health and Human Services strives to make these pages universally acceptable. Suggestions for increasing the accessibility of this site are welcome.