By Dr. Deryck D. Pattron
Public Health Educator and Consultant

Albert Skair
Chair/Head of the Department of Public Health and Safety,
COSTAATT

Health Education is education for health that equips the individual with necessary knowledge that influences behavioural and attitude changes and reduces, prevents or controls the incidence and prevalence of diseases. Health educators use a wide range of methodologies to bring about healthy behavioural changes. Some of these methodologies include theories and principles derived from psychology, sociology and cultural anthropology. The health educator is a specialist as distinct from the generalist and performs a range of functions. The purpose of the paper is to determine the role and functions of health Educators, with particular reference to the required needs and implications for Health educators in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean Region.