Moving from a reactive to a proactive society: recognizing the role of environmental public health professionals

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how society is naturally reactive to issues that could have been prevented or minimized in hindsight. Environmental public health professionals (EPHPs) take a proactive approach to health and safety to prevent the occurrence of adverse events that can negatively impact the health of individuals. The Canadian healthcare system largely invests in hospitals and acute care compared to public health. EPHPs have been actively mobilized to assist with the pandemic response and have demonstrated their versatility in skillset—EPHPs have performed a variety of activities, such as enforcement action, education, and contact tracing. Despite EPHPs proving to be a valuable resource during the pandemic, there remains a sense of under-recognition and underappreciation for the work being done. Indeed, the nature of public health work relies on efforts occurring behind-the-scenes—trends over time will reveal the outcomes of health initiatives. Although it is challenging to obtain timely health evidence to justify investment into public health, a continued passive approach to prevention will be harmful to society. Greater acknowledgement and investment of resources into the health protection field can help establish a proactive attitude to thereby lessen the economic and health burdens our communities may face in the future.