XN000022-1978-12-05 — Page 2

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1978

PLAN TO SET UP 3 REGIONAL HEALTH EDUCATION CENTRES

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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS PLANNING TO SET UP THREE REGIONAL HEALTH EDUCATION CENTRES TO HELP THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT PROMOTE PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S DEPUTY DIRECTOR DR. S.H. LEE, THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON WHEN HE ADDRESSED THE LIONS CLUB OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ON THE SUBJECT OF HEALTH EDUCATION.

HE SAID HEALTH EDUCATION PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE POSITIVE PROMOTION OF HEALTH AND IN THE PREVENTION OF DISEASE.

+THE BASIC PRINCIPLE OF HEALTH EDUCATION IS TO HELP PEOPLE TO DEVELOP NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE CONDUCIVE TO HEALTH, AND TO UNDERSTAND THE BASIC CONCEPT OF PREVENTION AND TIMELY TREATMENT OF VARIOUS DISEASES, HE SAID.

+HEALTH EDUCATION,+ SAID DR. LEE, +NOT ONLY CONCERNS THE INDIVIDUAL, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, BECAUSE AN INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT LIVE IN ISOLATION, HE BELONGS TO VARIOUS GROUPS -- THE FAMILY COMMUNITIES, INSTITUTIONS, CLUBS AND SO ON..

+HEALTH EDUCATION CANNOT BE IMPOSED UPON PEOPLE, IT INVOLVES A TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION PROCESS IN WHICH MAXIMUM INVOLVEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY AND ITS INDIVIDUALS FACILITATES THE LEARNING PROCESS, + HE ADDED.

DR. LEE POINTED OUT THAT MOTIVATION OF THE PEOPLE TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN HEALTH EDUCATION ACTIVITIES IS ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF SUCH ACTIVITIES.

+ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF SPECIAL GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY, SUCH AS SCHOOL CHILDREN, PARENTS, TEACHERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, MEDICAL AND HEALTH WORKERS, WOULD HELP TO MAINTAIN AN AWARENESS OF THE COMMUNITY IN ADOPTING THE NECESSARY ATTITUDE, KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE TO ATTAIN OPTIMAL HEALTH, HE SAID.

DR. LEE SAID THE CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT, FORMED A YEAR AGO. WAS PRIMARILY A RESOURCE UNIT FOR BOTH METHODOLOGY AND MATERIALS, WHOSE MAIN TASK WAS TO COORDINATE HEALTH EDUCATION ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND ORGANISATIONS.

DURING THE PAST YEAR, THE UNIT WORKED WITH OTHER PROFESSIONAL BODIES IN LAUNCHING A SERIES OF HEALTH EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS, INCLUDING RUBELLA VACCINATION, HYPERTENSION, EYE CARE, JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DEAF AND CHILD HEALTH.

DR. LEE SAID THE CAMPAIGNS HAD MET WITH ENCOURAGING RESPONSE FROM THE PUBLIC AND HE PAID TRIBUTE TO VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL BODIES, VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS, OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS THE MASS MEDIA FOR THEIR CO-OPERATION AND SUPPORT.

/LOOKING