Health education is the process of educating people about their health. The essence of health education is to teach people on ways of preventing disease, manage their health and prolong their lives through intentional and informed choices. This article will provide information on "what are the role of education in the promotion of health in Nigeria?" and also provide answers to questions regarding health education in Nigeria.
- Education Gives You The Option For Medical Treatment
It is no news that the world is going from synthetic drugs to herbal drugs. Alternative therapy is any form of medical treatment other than the western form of treatment. While this may be okay, health educators should enlighten the patients on the implication of these medical options available to them. The option of which medical treatment a patient chooses depends on various factors within and outside the control of the patient. Such options include the availability of funds, proximity to the health care center, preference of the patients, and the nature of the ailment. Also, when sick people access the traditional cure to their ailment, they should do so using registered herbal drugs registered by the statutory medicine regulatory body like NAFDAC.
- Education Increases Life Expectancy
Proper enlightenment of our school children on eating habits will prevent obesity, high cholesterol level, and high sugar level. This poor eating habit can make children susceptible to heart-related diseases. For instance, carbonated drinks and lollipop contain too much sugar which increases student hyperactivity and limits their concentration rate. And poor concentration result is poor academic performance. Parents, and schools can educate children on common hygiene rules that can improve their health. This includes hand washing before and after using the toilet, washing of hands before and after eating. Another is a simple table manner, such as not talking while eating, or never stretch to take food across the table. Pregnant women are at risk when they use drugs without the doctor’s approver. But not every woman knows alcohol, cigarette and buying drugs across the counter is dangerous to them and the unborn baby. The media publicity advice mothers to take their children for immunization for preventable childhood diseases. This immunization prevents children from the known killer disease. This disease includes whooping cough, measles, polio, tetanus, etc.
- Education Cuts Cost
Most government establishment uses generators which releases carbon monoxide. The Lagos State Government, for instance, powered most of the streetlights with generators. The effect of these generators is the increase in heat, noise and air pollution which is dangerous to people’s health. And the danger of emitted gas is depletion of the ozone layer which causes skin cancer and heart-related diseases. But, education dictates the government can use solar energy which is cheaper, has little maintenance and zero side effect. When the government does this, it will bring down government expenses. And with the reduction in the government expenses that money can be concentrated on health facilities. If the government is literate enough, they should know a good road and a better transport system will reduce stress on the people and the number of cars on the road. The result and effect of such action will be fewer accidents and a better life for the citizens.
- Health Education Improves Security and Social Wellbeing
Human beings are a social being, emotional stability is part of health, anger, bitterness, unforgiving and hatred kills people. When people live peacefully with their neighbors, they’ll live happy and healthier. If people key into healthy living they’ll keep away from a substance that can negatively alter their emotion. A drug is defined as any chemical substance other than food that alters people’s emotional, physiological and psychological change. So being educated on health is to know how and when to use a particular drug and for what. It is ignorance, therefore, to think drug abuse is only the use of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. People can abuse any drug. One of the most abused drugs in Nigeria is Paracetamol. This is because people use it at will and anybody can get it across the counter. Drug addiction is drug abuse. You can be addicted to anything including sex, alcohol, painkiller and other drugs. Drug abuse means any medication you cannot do without using.
Health education motivates students to improve and maintain their health, prevent disease and reduce risky behaviour. It is essential for teachers to start teaching health education in Nigerian schools early on from preschool to elementary and then to secondary.
Its aim is to prevent health problems from happening or re-occurring by implementing educational programs, developing policies, administering services and conducting research. In many cases, treating a disease or controlling a pathogen can be vital to preventing it in others, such as during an outbreak.
The World Health Organization defined Health Education as "comprising of consciously constructed opportunities for learning involving some form of communication designed to improve health literacy, including improving knowledge, and developing life skills which are conducive to individual and community health."
The role of education in promoting health in Nigeria will be a reality if the government will provide an enabling environment for traditional drug producers.