The session began with an overview of healthcare services, categorizing them into preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services. Throughout the event, the subcategories of preventive health services aimed at individuals and the environment were explained, with case examples provided for each preventive healthcare measure.
Preventive healthcare services directed at individuals include:
Immunization: The most effective way to prevent infectious diseases and reduce their mortality and morbidity rates. Routine vaccinations have significantly reduced cases of measles, mumps, rubella, congenital rubella syndrome, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough by 90% or more. Protection through vaccination can be either active or passive. Active immunity is achieved by administering vaccines or toxins that trigger an immune response against infectious agents or their toxins. Vaccines may contain live attenuated (weakened) microorganisms or inactivated microorganisms and their components. While active immunization takes time to develop, it provides long-term immunity. Live attenuated vaccines mimic natural infections and generally require only a single dose for lifelong immunity, whereas inactivated vaccines require multiple doses. Passive immunity, on the other hand, is provided through pre-prepared antibodies such as immunoglobulins and antitoxins, offering temporary protection. Passive immunization is used for individuals recently exposed to an infection or those at imminent risk of exposure.
Medication-Based Protection: Especially relevant for diseases without vaccines.
Early Diagnosis: Essential for treatment effectiveness and success.
Nutrition: A fundamental and contributing factor in many diseases (e.g., tuberculosis).
Family Planning: Frequent and excessive childbirth poses health risks to women.
Health Education: Aims to instill awareness that individuals are responsible for their own health. Staying healthy largely depends on proper patient education.
Personal Hygiene.
Providing Adequate and Clean Drinking Water
Waste Management: Proper collection, disposal, and treatment of household, industrial, hospital, and hazardous wastes.
Food Hygiene: Food safety inspections are carried out by professionals from various fields, including chemical engineers, agricultural engineers, food engineers, veterinarians, pharmacists, medical technologists, food technicians, chemists, microbiologists, and biologists. These inspections are conducted under the supervision of institutions such as the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, local municipalities, and the Turkish Standards Institution.
Housing Hygiene: Residential areas should allow for air circulation, receive sunlight, and be planned in low-risk areas regarding natural disasters. Poor housing conditions contribute to the spread of infectious diseases, psychological disorders, and household accidents. Settlements with inadequate sewage systems facilitate the spread of gastrointestinal epidemic diseases.
Combating Air Pollution and Noise: The primary causes of air pollution are rapid urbanization and uncontrolled industrialization. Air pollution levels (e.g., sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and ozone) are monitored using specialized devices in cities.
Vector Control: A critical part of preventive health services. The primary goal of pest control efforts in urban areas is to create a healthier environment.
This event provided a general overview of preventive healthcare and sustainable healthy living behaviors. It was also announced that in the following workshops, each session will focus on a specific healthy lifestyle behavior.
The theme of this session was “Protecting Health”, which was explored through case studies, questions, and discussions.
