Understanding the history of community heaath Essay

Understanding the history of community heaath - Essay Example These projects are created in order to serve people within a specific geographic region (Organizing a community health improvement initiative). Therefore, the definition of community health depends on the type of project involved and its objectives. Some projects focus on physical health, while others focus on behavioral health, environmental perspectives or socio – economic factors. The application of community health projects depends on the nature of its definition. (Organizing a community health improvement initiative). Population oriented healthcare is based on the health of individuals and families who make up that community. It is essential in population oriented health care programmes to recognize the environment of the population at which the program is targeted. This enhances the chances of promoting overall health. Therefore, population oriented health care can be defined as interventions that seek to prevent disease and promote health, in order to enhance the overall health profile of a community (Lundy and Janes). In the early 1960’s people of disadvantaged populations could not access health care facilities. To address the problem, the government implemented the Great Society programs. The cost of healthcare was on the increase. Healthcare for the elderly was disproportionately expensive. Subsequently, Congress implemented the Medicare Program and Medicaid programs, in order to succor the disadvantaged and the poor people. The ambit of these programs was further expanded, so as to include disabled people and people suffering from chronic kidney ailments (Shi and Singh). Subsequently, in the late nineteenth century, cancer screening and immunization services were included in the Medicaid program. In 1997, the government made a budgetary allocation of twenty – four million dollars to implement State Children’s Health Insurance Program. This program