The paper discusses the relatively understudied work of the Transbaikal Provincial Department of Health – the organisation of health education. The authors gathered and analysed unpublished sources from the State Archives of the Transbaikal Region and the State Archives of the Khabarovsk Region. The paper employs materials from statistical books and periodical press. The materials at the disposal of the authors show the relevance of health education in Eastern Transbaikalia. This is also confirmed by data on the challenging epidemiologic environment in the region – statistics on the rampancy of infectious and venereal diseases, as well as lung and gastrointestinal diseases among the local population