Health education of the public: its role in the eradication of vector-borne disease.
The importance of the role of information and education in the control and eradication of vector-borne diseases is well recognized. What is not so well recognized is the need for the fullest exploitation of this role on a national and global scale in the construction of control and eradication programmes. Such programmes are greatly hindered by ignorance and fear and the lack of fullest co-operation between all bodies concerned. Both the public and governments must be made aware of the importance of such programmes and the goals they would accomplish if carried out to finality. The success of eradication and control programmes can be completely prevented unless those who are to benefit are in a position to understand why these programmes are being undertaken, why they themselves should be participants, and why constant vigilance is required to prevent recurrence of the conditions that give rise to disease and untimely death. The author stresses the need for a properly staffed and well-serviced health education division within the framework of the national health organization, as well as the establishment of an epidemiological and statistical branch. Specific attention should be given to the integration within the school syllabus not only of basic health rules, but also of simple preventive medicine, with special relation to control or eradication programmes already in the course of execution.
Gillette
H P
HP