Government's Role in Healthcare (1 janv. 1900 – 1 janv. 2023)

Description:

Since 1942, deadly diseases that can now be vaccinated against include diphtheria, polio, measles, rubella, MMR and HPV.
Diphtheria was a major killer disease before the 1940s: it could cause paralysis or heart failure, and in 1940 there were over 60,000 cases and 3,000 deaths. During World War 2, fears of vast spreading of the disease led to a vaccination campaign - by 1957, diphtheria cases dropped to 38 with only 6 deaths.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Britain suffered many polio epidemics: the disease would attack the digestive and nervous system, leading to paralysis. Over 30,000 children were disabled between 1947 and 1958. A vaccination campaign began in 1956 to vaccinate all people under the age of 40. In the period 1985 to 2002, only 40 polio cases were reported in Britain.

Since 1948, the government has tried to prevent people from getting ill by: funding more testing and vaccinations; better disposal of rubbish and sewage; laws reducing air and water pollution; laws banning the advertising of cigarettes and smoking in public places; laws improving health and safety in the workplace; and environmental health officers inspecting food outlets.

The government has also funded publicity to raise awareness of illness and dangers to health, such as drinking and smoking. In 1952, the Great Smog of London caused by coal fires resulted in the death of 4000 people; the government passed laws to limit air pollution and prevent diseases such as asthma and bronchitis. In the 1980s, an AIDS campaign was set up to reduce the number of HIV cases - it was successful. In 2004, the Change4Life campaign was introduced to help improve diets and promote daily exercise due to an increase in obesity. In 2004, the Drinkaware campaign was launched, causing a decline in alcohol intake.

People live longer lives today than in 1900 because of the massive improvements in healthcare. In the early 1900s, public health was poor: there were many contagious diseases that killed thousands, and people could not afford to be treated by a practitioner. However, in 2023, life expectancy has greatly increased due to the greater awareness the public has of disease, as well as services such as the NHS.

Ajouté au bande de temps:

Date: