Every day in the mainstream media, it is possible to get a coverage of a public health issue. This is because the media is considered the channel through which the masses can be educated and informed about the condition of the nation and world at large. It is essential for the reporters to do so in order to make the public aware of the things that are affecting them and the level of response that is needed. This paper will focus on an article in a mainstream newspaper that focuses on a public health issue. Specifically, the paper of choice is the Associated Press which is known to be leading in the contemporary issues concerning Americans and the world at large.
The article that this paper will focus on is “ Candidates for Alaska governor outline public safety plans in Bethel forum (AP, 2018) ” published by Associated Press. In this article, the health issue that comes out clearly is the situation of the rural public safety in the state of Alaska. This article was a report on the campaign promises that the candidates proposed to see the Alaskan citizens experience public safety. While this paper is not addressing a specific public health issue, it is true to say that the safety of natives is a contribution to public health. This is specifically because lack of safety increases the rates of injuries and thus a danger to the health status of the state. It is thus possible to extrapolate how the issue that the gubernatorial candidate was addressing to public health.
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The paper was accessed through the online database of Anchorage Daily News website. The main population that the paper addresses is the rural community of Alaska who lives in a place where there is a poor connection to the urban resources and technology. This paper shows that the population of this state is at an increased or are already in danger of unsafe environment. Part of this may be because Alaska is vastly rural and isolated while covered mostly in permafrost. The group that is at higher risk of the consequences of lack of rural safety is the ethnic natives. This faction is still considered to be large in this part of the US. Overall, the natives are poor and lack access to public health education and interventions. There is still the practice of traditional medicine that makes them unexposed to the modern practices. Being rural communities and bordering the Pacific ring of fire, the natives are at risk of natural disasters such as volcanic action and earthquakes. With a lack of education and access to technology, the disasters can be hazardous and cause a lot of casualties, which is a public health issue.
The article matters the most to policymakers and the law enforcement agencies that are mandated to maintain public safety. The policymakers are supposed to know the threats that are evident in the state and provide the basis for deployment. The administrators of Alaska, such as the governor, is also an important stakeholder in the issue of security as he or she is responsible for structuring the safety docket for the state. There have been initiatives in the past to address the issue of safety. As the article points out, there was a formation of Village Public Safety Officers and Alaska State Troopers programs to shadow the police officers. The main aim was to educate the tribes on public safety and health. The main barrier to the solution is lack of personnel as the state has fewer people and thus translating to the insufficient workforce.
Public safety can be affected by policy implications especially when the protocol is included. The response and evacuation process during disasters follow a chain of command and follow the set regulations. The Affordable Care Act has formed various frameworks to increase healthcare access to the Alaskan tribes through strengthening the tribal healthcare systems. This increases the safety of these communities.
In summary, the Associated Press article addresses the issue of public safety in Alaska and the paper has shown how it is related to a public health issue.
Reference
Associated Press. (2018, October 16). Candidates for Alaska governor outline public safety plans in Bethel forum. Retrieved November 16, 2018, from https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/rural-alaska/2018/10/16/candidates-for-alaska-governor-outline-public-safety-plans-in-bethel-forum/
