Question

In a 3- to 5- page paper, justify the importance of lifelong learning for public health professionals and share at least two organizations that support continuing education for public health professionals.

Answer 1

Lifelong learning for public health professionals is sufficient to throw them in the limelight reaping the benefits of a successful career with immense potential. Public health is a field of drastic changes, unable to be included in one or two courses throughout a professional's career. Since it deals directly with community health, which includes epidemics/pandemics, lifestyle diseases, mortality rate, and overall prevention of diseases and converges with the cure section of healthcare, the professionals need up-to-date knowledge. This requirement for public health professionals is met by lifelong learning and by adopting learning as a way of life. At the same time, the expected results could not be obtained by making it a mandatory requirement to work in this field.

Knowledge, when considered as a passion, would enable the seeker to pursue it till the inevitable end, but when imposed as a mandatory requirement would lose its glitter. Considering the ever-changing scenario in public health like emerging technologies as well as threats like biological warfare, continuing education should be pursued by each and every public health professional for the betterment of themselves as well as the society. Accepting the responsibility to be knowledgeable is the foremost step towards becoming a self-sustained knowledge database. This is a career that encourages continuous education to support the community and the professional, which points to the significance of continuing education for public health professionals.

Like any other career, knowledgeability increases the chances of getting hired with a good remuneration. Once a professional gets hired in this field, where serving the public is a major aim, proper service can be rendered only with the help of concurrent knowledge. Climate change and environmental pollution has lead to the emergence of new diseases, which can be successfully dealt only with continuing education of public health professionals. The accumulating plastic, electronic, and other non-biodegradable waste contributes extensively to harmful environmental conditions and the everchanging public health concerns.

Extensive air pollution as a result of modernization has caused concerns about the respiratory wellbeing of people all over the world. The once rare respiratory disorders have become a daily affair for at least one-third of the global population. New treatment methodologies and techniques invented to treat these conditions will be unveiled only to those knowledge seekers who are constantly updating these ever-changing conditions, their impact, and remedies. They also have the responsibility of letting the public know about these dangers and remedies. Thus to educate the public about the imminent danger of these issues, the professionals should have the thirst for knowledge and update themselves first and then educate the public.

Climate change is one of the worst issues of the modern world, which needs updated knowledge and will to improve the community health to tackle it. Reservations can be made in these situations, but considering the bigger picture of community health, it is always advisable to continue education to serve the public. One of the unforgettable lessons that the COVID 19 pandemic has taught is the need to acquire up-to-date knowledge about global health issues in the quickest possible way. The professionals need to make decisions on the basis of this, educate the public, and take preventive measures. The response from the professionals as well as the public should be quick to arrest the spread of any contagion. This requires the quick sharing of the latest knowledge with the public. Health Resources and Services Administration and Bureau of Health Professions are two organizations that support continuing education for public health professionals. The goal of knowledge sharing or community education for disease control can be met without hindrances, only if the public health professional has sufficient continuing education.