Who we are
There are six Public Health Areas covering the Republic of Ireland, each providing Public Health expertise and services locally and nationally.
Public Health Areas professionals:
- provide health protection services
- advocate and contribute to health improvement
- participate in health service development
Each area is led by an Area Director who is also a regional Medical Officer of Health.
Multidisciplinary services in areas are provided by a wide range of experts*:
* The composition of disciplines in individual Departments varies
What we do
Public Health is “the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting, protecting and improving health through the organised efforts of society” (Acheson, 1988).
Public health professionals use epidemiology - a statistical science - to describe the occurrence of disease and what the causes might be - much of this work is "behind the scenes". The more we understand about the cause of diseases, the more we can do to prevent them; detect them at an early stage; or provide the most appropriate health services.
Public Health Areas in Ireland contribute to implementing Healthy Ireland, The Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing by actions including:
| Health Protection |
Health Improvement |
| Prevent epidemics |
Promote health behaviour - making the healthier choice easy |
| Protect people from biological, chemical and radio-nuclear health threats |
Monitor the health status of the population |
| Respond to incidents and disasters |
Mobilise community action |
Health Services
| Health Services |
| Assure the quality, accessibility and accountability of medical care |
| Reach out to link high-risk and hard-to-reach people to needed services |
| Research to develop new insights and innovative solutions |
| Lead the development of evidence-based health policy and planning |
