1.

Health Education
In 1979 a full-time health educator was employed in Majuro for the

first time.

This reflects the growing recognition that educational

efforts must be an integral
health care system.

and strong component of any successful

A health education section should not, however,

become the sole provider of education.

Their role is rather one of

developing materials and ideas and encouraging their utilization by
all providers in the health care system.

The most effective health

education is that given in response to a question - and the clinical
staff are those being asked the most questions.
The choice of topics to pursue in educational efforts should be
influenced by the prevalence of particular problems and the ease with
which they can be improved.

Priority topics that have been identified

are:

Nutrition-related

diseases

including

malnutrition

hypertension, diabetes, and various dental diseases.

and

obesity,

Diseases related to improper sanitation and personal hygiene including
diarrheal diseases, gastroenteritis, filariasis and other worm
infestation, amoebic dysentery, hepatitis, and others.
Communicable diseases including '‘childhood' diseases preventable
through immunization, venereal disease, tuberculosis, leprosy, and
others.
Certain diseases and conditions associated with pregnancy and early
infancy which are partially or wholly preventable through proper
prenatal, postnatal, and infant care.
Oral diseases particularly dental decay occurring in children
Mental health-related
suicide,
and
other
disorganization

problems including
conditions
often

alcohol and drug
associated
with

abuse,
social

Inappropriate use of health care services and facilities by health care
consumers and reluctance of health care consumers to assume
appropriate responsibility for health and the health care system
To accomplish these objectives, health education responsibilities must

be assumed by al] health workers, especially the medical assistants (medex)
and health assistants providing primary health care.

Select target paragraph3