Journal of public health
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Journal of public health · Sep 2016
Childhood idols, shifting from superheroes to public health heroes.
It is early Saturday morning: a day for heroes. Bogged down with various costumes, capes and action figures, young Nikoli bounds downstairs to catch reruns of Teen Titans He puts his newly acquired reading skills to work, studying comic books and recreating the adventures therein. Nikoli imagines himself as the hero in his comics, defeating villains and saving victims, imitating the poses and catchphrases in the mirror. ⋯ Imagine a world where Superman is mentioned in the same breath as Ignaz Semmelweis, the man who revolutionized sanitation in health care by demonstrating that hand washing prevents the spread of infection. Children who idolize the champions of health care could someday grow up to be heroes themselves, fighting epidemics and saving lives through education, treatment and research. Their wildest fantasies could become a reality.