CONSUMER EDUCATION

CONSUMER HEALTH PROTECTION

Introduction

Consumer health refers to the decisions you make about the purchase of product and use of health information and services that will have direct effect on your health. Health information is the data and facts you got from media and people including the professionals and agencies.
Health products are those substances, materials or equipment prepared or manufactured for you to buy and use in the maintenance of health and the treatment of diseases. Example is foods, eyeglasses, medicines, cosmetics, cars, appliances and others.
Health services refer to health information, actions, procedures or work furnished, or supplied to help satisfy your needs and wants as a consumer. This is services and things people do to and for other people. Example of health services are medical consultation and treatment, using the telephone, using the electricity, and payment for transportation, payment for haircut, payment for news papers and your favorite magazines and comics.
Consumer health education is the process of assisting you to acquire the correct information and understanding so that you will able to make wise decision about a certain health item.

WHO IS A CONSUMER?
We all are because we are all users. We use goods and services every day. We need food, clothing and shelter. We travel on busses and trains, visit the doctors and dentist, go to the library, or watch television. At home we use energy in the form of gas, electricity, coal, expect clean drinkable water from the tap.

CONSUMER- means a natural person who is a purchaser, lessee, recipient or prospective purchaser, lesser or recipient of consumer products, services or credit.

CONSUMER RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Being good consumer means knowing what to look out for and what to avoid. It means know where and how to get the best value for money, where to go if things go wrong. Your role as a consumer has both right and responsibilities.
1. The right to safety- To be protected against products, production, processes and services that are hazardous to health or life
2. The right to be informed- To be given facts needed to make an informed choice and protected against dishonest or misleading advertising and labeling
3. The right to choose- to be able to select from a range of products and services and competitive prices with an assurance satisfactory quality.