Most of the harm done by campaigns against the killing and disabling diseases stems from the fact that such campaigns are conducted over relatively short periods of time. Organizations that do excellent work every day of the year are limited to a week or so in which to educate the public and publicize their work. Whether they wish to or not, they must in a sense compete with other valuable organizations. If they want to put across their message, they must use advertising methods and publicity techniques similar to those intended to sell a commercial product.

This situation would be greatly improved if these organizations could obtain the money they need without having to engage in intensive fund-raising campaigns—for example, by increased donations from individuals and foundations and by aid from the Government. It would also help if the campaigns placed even more emphasis on the fact that the health hazards they are publicizing can be cured or controlled if they are detected early enough. As an example, this positive approach to the dangers of childbirth has done a great deal to eliminate fear and anxiety in prospective mothers.

But most important of all, health education should be a continuous process, so that organizations would not have to crowd their warnings and recommendations into a single intensive week.

Health education should begin in childhood. Some elementary schools train young children in many of the essentials of health and hygiene. Some high schools continue this excellent work, teaching first aid, human biology, and the prevention of disease. How about your school? By working through parent-teacher associations or by organizing interesting after-school programmes, parents can see to it that their children’s health education is not neglected.

This education should not end when young people leave school. Churches, adult education centres, clubs, trade unions, and other organizations should keep health on their agenda, working out ways of interesting their members by means of lectures, exhibits, and so on, and of bringing these projects to the entire community.

The public health department in your community can be of great assistance. Many of us tend to overlook this valuable agency. The effectiveness of your local health department depends to a great extent on the interest of the local citizenry. Public health departments and health inspectors have learnt how to get excellent results without resorting to scare techniques.

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