Health education is defined as a process of imparting information about health in such a way that the people are motivated to use the information for the protection and promotion of health of individuals, their families and communities.
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Every community health worker, be it a doctor, nurse or pharmacist is a health educator. Our government has set up community health centers throughout the country to impart health education, vaccination facilities and to treat common diseases.
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Areas of Health Education:
Health education has a very wide area of imparting knowledge to people which are described below:
1. It gives knowledge regarding structure and functions of the body and tells how to keep physically and mentally fit, about exercise, rest and sleep; harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco and drugs on the body.
2. It gives knowledge regarding various nutrients present in different food materials and making a balanced diet from available foods. It also gives knowledge regarding storage, preparation, cooking, serving and eating of food.
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3. It gives information about the causes of various common diseases, how they spread and protection from these diseases. People should be encouraged to participate in the national programmes of disease control and eradication.
4. It imparts knowledge about personal and environmental hygiene. Personal hygiene includes bathing, washing, and clothing, toilets, care of feet, nails, teeth, and hair and skin; spitting, coughing, sneezing and developing clean habits in young children. Environmental hygiene includes cleaning, proper lighting and ventilation of houses; supply of clean water, control of rats and mice; proper sewage and disposal of refuge etc.
5. It imparts knowledge about causes and protection from environmental pollution.
6. It gives knowledge about the best use of health services provided by the government or voluntary organisations.
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7. Health education provides knowledge on first aid in accidental cases and handling of emergency situations like child birth.
Now a day’s health education has become a very important subject. The government has started community health centers where public is imparted health education. India has a very large population out of which majority is illiterate who do not know the ways and means of healthful living.
A large number of people die every year because of ignorance. Therefore it becomes necessary to give knowledge to such people through health education. A few doctors, nurses, pharmacists or health workers are not sufficient to impart health education to whole of population of India.
Health education can be spread easily if large number of men, women and voluntary organisations come forward who can take the message of health education to more and more people throughout the country. Such an involvement of the people in health education will lead to quick initiative in tackling urgent health problems.
For example if any factory is polluting the nearby river from where the people take their water requirements for drinking, bathing and washing purposes, if the people are aware of the harmful effects of such pollution, they can collectively force the owner of the factory to stop this practice of polluting the river water or they may take the help of authorities concerned in such matters.