What was the main goal of the Public Health Act of 1875?

The main goal of the Public Health Act of 1875 was to improve urban sanitation and ensure clean water supplies. This legislation emerged during a time when rapidly growing cities in Britain faced significant public health challenges, including disease outbreaks caused by contaminated water and inadequate waste disposal.

The act aimed to address these issues by mandating local authorities to improve sanitation infrastructure, control pollution, and ensure access to clean water. It established regulations for the construction of drainage systems, sewage treatment, and the maintenance of cleanliness in urban areas. Thus, the focus was on enhancing public health through environmental reforms, which played a crucial role in reducing the incidence of diseases like cholera.

While vaccination programs and health insurance were important aspects of public health during this era, they were not the primary focus of the 1875 Public Health Act. The act's emphasis on sanitation measures was pivotal in laying the groundwork for modern public health policies, making it a landmark development in the context of improving health and living conditions in burgeoning urban environments.