How Public Health Works for You — Every Day

Public health is the work happening all around you—often behind the scenes—to keep our community healthy, safe, and thriving. At the Southern Nevada Health District, that work spans disease prevention, environmental protections, access to care and partnerships that improve quality of life for everyone in Clark County.

Our role is to protect and promote health at a population level. That means preventing problems before they start, responding quickly when issues arise, and ensuring all residents have the opportunity to live healthier lives.

Why Public Health Matters

Public health touches every part of daily life:

• The safety of the food you eat and the water you drink
• Protection from infectious diseases and outbreaks
• Access to vaccines, screenings, and healthcare services
• Safe environments where you live, work, and play
• Community programs that support healthy lifestyles

This work is most effective when it is shared. Public health is not just what we do—it is what we do together as a community.

Our Impact in Action

Protecting the Community from Disease

We monitor and respond to health threats to keep the community safe.

• Investigated thousands of cases of communicable diseases and monitored over 20,000 reports of respiratory illness to identify and respond to trends
• Conducted outbreak investigations locally and in coordination with national partners to stop the spread of illness
• Expanded harm reduction and overdose response efforts, including real-time response partnerships with community organizations and first responders
• Distributed prevention resources—including hundreds of thousands of condoms and thousands of testing kits—to reduce the spread of disease

What this means for you: Faster detection, quicker response and fewer people getting sick.

Expanding Access to Care and Prevention

We ensure people can access the services they need to stay healthy.

• Served more than 15,000 patients through our community health centers, with growing access to medical, behavioral health and pharmacy services
• Administered over 67,000 immunizations to protect against preventable diseases
• Delivered care directly in the community through mobile clinics, school-based programs and outreach partnerships
• Expanded same-day appointments, behavioral health services and preventive care programs to meet community needs

What this means for you: More convenient, timely access to care—when and where you need it.

Creating Healthier Communities

We work with partners to improve the conditions that influence health.

• Connected residents to healthy food through community programs, food access initiatives, and nutrition education
• Provided screenings and referrals in community settings like barber shops, faith-based organizations and neighborhood events
• Reached tens of thousands of youth with education on tobacco prevention, healthy habits and chronic disease prevention
• Convened community partners to address issues like brain health, chronic disease and health equity

What this means for you: More opportunities to stay healthy in the places you live, learn and connect.

Ensuring Safe Environments

We protect health through inspections, standards and environmental safeguards.

• Conducted thousands of inspections of restaurants, pools, childcare facilities and public spaces to ensure safety
• Responded to public health concerns, from foodborne illness to water quality issues
• Advanced protections for safe drinking water and wastewater systems to safeguard long-term community health
• Supported large-scale events to ensure public safety for residents and visitors alike

What this means for you: Safer places to eat, gather and live.

Building a Strong Public Health System

Public health depends on infrastructure, workforce, and partnerships.

• Maintained a highly trained workforce and supported future public health professionals through internships and academic partnerships
• Strengthened financial stewardship and secured funding to sustain critical programs and services
• Improved systems, technology and facilities to better serve the community
• Collaborated with healthcare providers, community organizations and local governments to extend our reach and impact

What this means for you: A stronger, more responsive public health system you can rely on.

Public Health Is a Shared Responsibility

Public health works best when everyone plays a role. You can help protect your health and the health of others by:

• Staying up to date on recommended vaccinations
• Seeking care and following public health guidance when sick
• Practicing healthy habits like good nutrition and physical activity
• Supporting community efforts that promote health and safety

Together, we can build a healthier, more resilient Southern Nevada.

Learn More and Get Involved

Explore programs, services and resources available to you and your family. Public health is here to support you—every step of the way.