Health Education

Do you get proper Health Education?

Health education is a powerful and effective medicine in the treatment and prevention of illness. It is the cheapest but very effective tool if administered with great awareness in school, hospital, health centre, home and community. It means educating people about health which involves making people know.  Particularly if they go against the health of an individual, family or community. It helps to increase knowledge and reinforce desired behaviour patterns.

Health education brings together the art of science and medicine and the principles and practice of general education. But everyone should remember that teaching and learning is a two-way process of transactions and cannot teach unless the pupil wants to learn. Learning takes places not only in the classroom but also outside in the wider world. There is internal learning by which a man grows into an adult individual. Health education consists of the following terminologies to refer.

Human Biology: Understanding health, demands an understanding of human biology, ie. The structure and functions of the body: how to keep fit - the need for exercise, rest and sleep; cultivation of healthy lifestyles.

Nutrition: a balanced diet is the main concern. And remove prejudices and promote good dietary habits. It is the major intervention for the prevention of malnutrition, promotion of health and improvising quality of life.

Hygiene:  This has two aspects - personal and environmental. Personal hygiene is to promote standards of personal cleanliness within the setting conditions where people live including bathing, clothing, washing hands and toilet, care of nails, discharging, and personal appearance. And environmental hygiene includes hygienic disposal of waste, avoiding pests, mice, insects, use of soap, hygienic storage of foods etc.

Family health: It is the first defence as well as the chief reliance for the well being of its members. Health depends on the family’s social and physical environment and its lifestyle, behaviour etc. The role of the family in health promotion and in the prevention of disease, early diagnosis and care of the sick is of crucial importance.

Disease Prevention and control: Education of people about the prevention and control of endemic diseases is the first of eight essential activities in primary health care. Several public health education and programs are in operation on a national scale to eradicate diseases.