[Education for health at the dawn of its history]

Both at national and international levels new concepts of health education have developed over the past 30 years. The emphasis has shifted from centralized to decentralized planning, from specific diseases to a holistic approach, from individual behaviour change to organizational, economic, environmental factors conductive to healthy lifestyles and self-reliance. The shift in concepts must be supported by a political will. This can express itself by harmonizing national and local plans, by facilitating intersectorial action, by using appropriate technology. Community involvement, local participation, must be developed as well as self-reliance. Therefore health educators should be capable of deciding their future for themselves. The conceptual changes imply measures at policing making level which relate to manpower development, the use of media, and research. Reorientation of manpower now in service is essential. Education of other key personnel, such as the village school teacher or religious and other community leaders, is very important. The education of women also deserves special attention. But most important of all is probably the training of health educators. The media, in its broad sense which includes puppet plays or folk art as well as the press, radio and television, was recognized as useful and complementary to health education. However, not all health professionals recognize the media potential. Intelligent collaboration between the health and communication sectors should be established. Evaluation of services, activities and programmes in health education is necessary to their eventual improvement. Evaluation, however, is only one part of a continuum of research needed to develop an efficient policy in health education.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)