Foreword

It is known that good nutrition leads to good health, and vice versa. However, as long as people are ignorant of the proper ways and means to maintain good health and nutrition, the goal "Health for All by the Year 2000" will be extremely difficult to achieve. It is therefore necessary to seek the most effective and efficient ways and means to educate people, change their attitudes, and modify their practices so that they can keep themselves healthy.

Thailand has adopted the primary health-care (PHC) approach for its health-care service. The Ministry of Health and Mahidol University jointly provide training for PHC workers from Thailand and other ASEAN countries. The Institute of Nutrition has also conducted operational research using various communications techniques, including radio and video tape. Rotary International has given us financial support for the operation of the project. His Excellency Mr. Bhichai Rattakul, the former governor of District 330 of Rotary International, has assisted us in acquiring this support.

The studies in Thailand as well as in other Asian countries indicate the urgent need for innovative and effective communications. As Asian countries have many health problems in common, so they share many socio-economic, cultural, and nutritional similarities. We sincerely hope that the workshop will provide an excellent opportunity for us to share our experience and knowledge as well as to recommend future plans for nutrition and health communication programmes for this region.

There are 47 participants from 13 countries; all of them have been, and still are, actively taking leading roles in health and nutrition education in their respective countries. There are resource persons from the United States and from one Asian country, who have travelled several thousand miles to participate in this workshop. On behalf of the organizers, I should like to express our sincere appreciation for their time and efforts. The outcome of the workshop will feed in to the Fourth Asian Congress of Nutrition, to be held in Bangkok from 1 to 4 November. It is hoped that the Asian nutritionists will derive benefit from our deliberations. Finally, I hope that we will be able to achieve fruitful results and recommendations that will be applicable to each of our respective countries.

During the organization of this workshop, we had valuable advice from the principal consultant, Ms. Jean Andersen, and Professor Nevin Scrimshaw. The organizers wish to express their gratitude for financial support provided by the United Nations University (UNU), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. L.J. Teply of UNICEF-New York, Mrs. Titi Memet, and Dr. Lay Maung of UNICEFEAPRO facilitated the attendance of Asian participants at the workshop; Mrs. Jane Bunnag of UNICEF-EAPRO provided advice and assistance during the initial planning; and Mrs. Suchada Sangsingkeo of UNICEF-EAPRO rendered valuable assistance in corresponding with workshop participants.

A. Valyasevi