History of Health and Health Education - Essay Example

"History of Health and Health Education" is a worthy example of a paper on the health system.
If you could time-travel back to that time in history, what challenges would a health educator have encountered? What impact could a health educator have had on the health problems of that time? What positive or negative factors would have worked for or against a health educator?

In historical times such as the early 1980s, most people in African countries only valued traditional methods of medication. They believed that only witch doctors and herbalists could solve their health problems. As a result of this, it was very hard for a health educator to convince the public of the essence of using western methods of medication. Apart from living far apart, most Africans also resided in secluded places such as forests. This mode of lifestyle posed a great challenge to health educators; they found it very hard to bring people together so as to inform them about diseases and their respective management. The mode of communication was also one of the greatest challenges that a health educator faced; none of the Africans understood English. On most occasions, a health educator conversed with Africans via the aid of signs (Stock, 527). Unfortunately, the use of signs in communication resulted in too many misunderstandings on the management of diseases. Apart from covering long distances, a health educator also required enough capital in order to meet the demands of many Africans who could not afford to purchase health services and medicine. Unfortunately, the decrease in resources as well a capital made a health educator not meet his objectives. 

Among the health problems that Africans faced in historical times include transmission of malaria, sleeping sickness, and leprosy. These diseases were associated with the loss of many African lives because of a lack of awareness as well as proper protective mechanisms. For instance, it is evident that the majority of the people in Western Africa contracted leprosy because of their close interaction with victims of leprosy. To combat these problems, it was very crucial for the Africans to be informed about the mode of transmission of these diseases. For instance, a health educator would have informed the public on how skin contact and sharing of contaminated beddings and clothing contribute to the spread of leprosy. The health educator would have also informed the public on the importance of protecting themselves against mosquitoes and tsetse flies responsible for the causation of malaria and sleeping sickness respectively. Additionally, a health educator would have managed to create awareness among the public on the importance of using advanced medications in solving their health problems.

The majority of the health educators in the past were whites. White health educators were the ones who advocated the use of modern medication to the blacks in Africa. Although their objectives were very important, it is evident that their skin color contributed immensely to their rejection by Africans. It is also evident that their unfamiliarity with Africa’s land terrain hampered their education roles. Another key factor that hampered the activity of the white health educator was the language barrier. Almost all Africans did not understand the health messages he or she was addressing. Although these negative factors contributed negatively towards the success of the activities of a health educator, it is evident that there were some positive factors that contributed significantly towards the success of a health educator’s roles in some areas. For instance, the reduction of the rate of deaths that were caused by malaria, leprosy, and sleeping sickness after receiving health education awareness made people accept health educators in their societies. The conversion of Africans into Christians also played a very significant role in the reduction of health problems in many societies. Apart from bringing people together to receive health education, it also made Africans value white health educators.