This is Dr. Steven Andrew Davis, Speaking Of Health. For example, one challenge is to clean up and protect the environment. Sure, it's on everyone's tongue, but some think that progress in reducing auto pollution and hazardous waste has been eroded. A second challenge is not just to fight newly emerging infectious diseases, but to respond to them. The challenge is to identify those at risk and get help to them.
Public health concerns itself with violence in society too.
A public health approach to reducing violence could include targeted interventions in communities, schools, work places, churches, and through mass media. It may seem that public behavior can't change, but smoking seemed unstoppable just a few decades ago too. As an example, the mapping of the human genome has tremendous potential, but this development must be orderly, equitable and ethical. I'm Dr. Steven Andrew Davis for CBS News.