Principles of Health Education

Abstract

Education aims to provide knowledge to promote action. As Kant stated, following education man is same but not the same.
The educacional message should empower roan to be the builder of his own destiny, providing the intellectual basis to choose, in this case Health, as one of the most precious goods. To attain this, it is necessary to «be» (building the personality) and to «be wise» (knowledge), so that to choose rightly («will») and reject those things that may harm. Our Cajal pointed that to demolish is not enough, we should build. Educacional intervention aims to strengthen the will, the definitory characteristic of man, the goal of our existence (Emerson).
Every Teacher and health agent should work as health educator with his/her attitude and behaviour «Verba movent, exempla trahunt», and stimulate the preoccupation for the problems.
Thus, the emphasis is more on care than in cure, and this concept should be embodied from the early infancy, in family and in school, posing benefit for the individual and the community. In conclusion, we need a knowledge and motivation basis to promote responsible behaviours with the active involvement of the individual and society.