COMMUNITY HEALTH

"…the attainment of health by people in any one country directly concerns and benefits every other country."— Article IX, Declaration of Alma-Ata, 1978

BRAC community health worker shows illustration chart to a group of women
BRAC community health worker teaching oral rehydration therapy, Balkh Province, Afghanistan, 2006
Courtesy BRAC Bangladesh

The well-being of every community depends upon the basic necessities of daily life and affordable health care. These are rights shared by everyone. Yet clean water, nutritious food, medicines, and health information remain out of reach for many.

Empowered communities can begin to redress this imbalance by participating in decisions that shape daily life. Some of the world's most successful initiatives began with this idea-that families and neighborhoods have a role in planning for their future.