asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement indicating the moneys provided for health education in each of the last four years for which the figures are available, including the amount estimated for 1988; and the other proposals he has to improve health education.
Written Answers. - Health Education.
29.
The allocations to the Health Education Bureau for each of the last four years were as follows:—1984, £1.250 million; 1985, £1,750 million; 1986, £2.000 million; 1987, £2.000 million.
Health education is an integral part of a broader policy of health promotion. Policy in this area needs to address the impact of social and economic factors on community health as well as educating the individual about personal lifestyle and health care.
That is what prompted the Government to establish a new structure for health promotion from 1 January 1988. That structure comprises: a health promotion unit within my Department; a broadly based advisory council on health promotion which will make recommendations to me on changes which might be made to improve the quality of our health; and a committee of Ministers reflecting the need for intersectoral action and the collective commitment of the Government to promoting positive health.
The health promotion unit has responsibility for developing health education campaigns as part of its overall remit. In the current year, for example, work is being undertaken in relation to smoking, AIDS, immunisation promotion (particularly in relation to measles vaccination), drug and alcohol abuse, cancer and nutrition, among others. The unit will be working with other statutory and voluntary agencies in developing health education programmes.
Approximately £1 million will, it is estimated, be expended on health promotion in 1988. This excludes the cost of salaries to those employed in the new unit and other non-pay costs which are provided for under the appropriate subheads in the Health Estimate. Additionally I have asked the health boards to give a high priority to health promotion projects in allocating their funds in 1988 and development in this regard will be monitored by my Department during the year.