l.

Health Education
In 1979 a full-time health educator was employed in M&juro for the

first time.

This reflects the growing recognition that] educational

efforts must be an integral and strong component of anb
health care system.

A health education section should

become the sole provider of education.

successful
mbt, however,

Their role is

rf&ther one of

developing materials and ideas and encouraging their ut§lization by

all providers in the health care system.

The most effettive health

education is that given in response to a question - and

Khe clinical

staff are those being asked the most questions.
The choice of topics to pursue in educational efforfs should be
influenced by the prevalence of particular problems and
which they can be improved.

tihe ease with

Priority topics that have bean

identified

are:
Nutrition-related diseases
including malnutrition
hypertension, diabetes, and various dental diseases.

ag@d

obesity,

Diseases related to improper sanitation and personal hygidne including

diarrheal

diseases,

gastroenteritis,

filariasis

and

infestation, amoebic dysentery, hepatitis, and others.

Communicable
through
others.

diseases

immunization,

including

venereal

‘childhood’

disease,

diseases

tuberculosis,

fother

worm

preventable

feprosy,

and

Certain diseases and conditions associated with pregnan€y and early
infancy which are partially or wholly preventable thnough proper

prenatal, postnatal, and infant care.

Oral diseases particularly dental decay occurring in chilHren
Mental health-related
suicide,
and
other

disorganization

problems including
conditions
often

alcohol and
associated

Inappropriate use of health care services and facilities by
consumers and reluctance of health care consumers]
appropriate responsibility for health and the health cara@

drug
ith

abuse,
social

health care
to assume
system

To accomplish these objectives, health education responsiljilities must

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

Select target paragraph3