Public Health and Community Health Education in South Africa

The term public health is used today when the health of a population is referred to. Before we look at public health, we should know the meaning of health. It is, however a difficult concept to define. The World Health Organisations definition of health, states that health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity (WHO Constitution 1947). Health, in this context, is placed in an idealistic sphere that is unattainable in everyday life.(omitted)