Linking "Occupations" to Public Health

Last week (March 8) to be precise marked the 5th year anniversary since the UAE Government announced the immediate closure of schools in efforts to contain Covid 19.This was followed by among other measures like suspending prayers in all places of worship,encouraging remote working,shopping centers closures,stay at home order,suspension of visa and flights etc.

In the UAE, what was meant to be a month of remote learning and work extended to months with most schools and public places only resuming services in August 2020 under strict health and safety rules. This was replicated all over the world and globally the world had "shut down".

As an allied health medic which is part of essential services ,I was fortunate enough to be issued with a movement permit which allowed for trips to/from work(to attend to the few clients who were still brave enough to make it to the clinic) and personally i still remember a chill passing next to Dubai international airport and seeing hundreds of aeroplanes parked on the runway.No one never knew when and if they would ever take to the skies and with my family(wife and toddler son) miles away in Nairobi,the future had never been unclear both personally and professionally. By Gods grace with and with all the health and safety measures in place both locally and internationally,the world re-opened and all of us were forced to adopt to the "new normal". 

My new normal coincided with a tough decision of how to proceed with my postgraduate studies.I had to choose whether to pursue a Masters in my familiar fields of occupational therapy and psychology or venture into the unknown field of public health. I have been privileged to practice occupational therapy for over a decade and at the core of our practice is enabling individuals engage in meaningful tasks/roles across different domains.

An individuals ability to engage in meaningful tasks is dependent on the persons abilities(physical and spiritual), his daily activities/occupations(self care and leisure) and the environment(cultural,social,institutional an physical).

Through the years i have enjoyed practicing occupational therapy and working with families at individual level but Covid 19 pandemic changed my perspective moving forward. With the lockdown that followed, I was forced to think beyond the clinic walls .With the changing uncertain world of pandemics,geopolitical tensions,climate change,rise of non communicable diseases,mass urbanization e.t.c my practice had to go beyond individual level and start solving society problems.The medical field of which i have been part of deals with treating disease or intervening at individual level.

I did my research on Public health which by definition is the science and art of preventing diseases and promoting health through organized societal efforts and its main aim is to prevent illness at population level.It is a multi disciplinary field and at the core of it is epidemiology(study of the distribution and determinants of health related states or events in human populations). 

Occupational therapy and public health share similar foundations in that they both focus on health improvement,promoting the wellbeing and participation of individuals in daily living activities(albeit at different levels). While OT promotes healthy lifestyles and preventing disabilities that encourage physical activity and mental wellbeing, PH focus is on prevention of diseases and promoting general health through education, policy and community programs. 

While working in communities, OTs support individuals with access to resources and community reintegration while considering some aspects of Social Determinants of Health(SDOH) like an individuals socioeconomic status and the environment they are expected to function.On the other hand PH majorly address these social determinants of health e.g housing,education and employment thereby making communities more inclusive and reducing health disparities. 

Public health is also at the forefront of disaster and emergency preparedness and help in managing disaster responses to ensure communities receive the much needed humanitarian aid which include medical supplies and other necessary support. OTs on the hand are usually at the core of rehabilitation services assisting individuals to regain their independence after disasters. 

Both are involved with mental health and well being promotion with OTs being part of allied health multi disciplinary team which assist with promoting coping strategies and assist individuals competence in daily living activities which has a direct bearing on their overall wellbeing.PH is concerned with mental health awareness campaigns and policy changes. 

My choice of public health(of which i recently graduated with a Masters of Science in Public Health and as such now also a PH practitioner) was informed by my background practicing occupational therapy and the opportunities brought about by the scope of PH practice due to the changing landscape of health challenges in the modern world.

Humanity is at the age of globalization and with the ever changing complexity and nature of health challenges, medical practice field is now more than ever is required to solve broader societal problems. Meaningful occupations being a major determinant of an individuals health or ill health, it is clear that OT professionals are better placed to champion public health initiatives which were at the core of containing the covid 19 pandemic.

I honestly think the world would still be on lockdown if had not been for coordinated efforts of different stakeholders,public health initiatives being at the core.

References 

Aschengrau, A and Seage, G. (2003) Essentials of Epidemiology in Public Health. London: Jones and Bartlett. 

Hanlon, P., Carlisle, S., Hannah, M. and Lyon, A. (2012) The Future Public Health. Berkshire:

McGraw Hill/OUP. Rayner, G. and Lang, T. (2012) Ecological Public Health: Reshaping the conditions for good health. New York: Routledge.

Polatajko, H. J., Townsend, E. A., Craik, J. (2007).Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement(CMOP-E).