• TUESDAY this week was Global Health Day. Having grown up with an epidemiologist father has brought me closer to the significance of public health.

Prompted by his daily updates, I’ve felt the urgency to reflect about the current emergency created by COVID19.

I wonder: why were we so unprepared?

The World Health Organisation defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.

It is not only about health provision but also about social measures to promote social wellbeing and a sense of collective as well as individual orientation. Here public health plays a pivotal role.

I have many memories of my father working as epidemiology director in a Spanish region, but one stuck in my mind: him complaining about further cuts and lack of political support.

As many other countries in Europe, the United Kingdom has cut public health funding since at least 2010. Now it stands at less than 1 per cent of the overall national health investment.

The current pandemic is demon­strating the need to recognise public health’s vital role, not only in the prevention and control of epidemics but also its contribution to our social wellbeing.

“Herd immunity” is to public health what austerity is for the public finances. We need to ask for serious political and financial commitment to expand public health locally.

We should vindicate the importance of public health in our communities. Because health is a political choice.

Cllr NAYRA BELLO O’SHANAHAN
Labour, Swiss Cottage ward