Communities comprise the glue that holds people together. Certainly in times of peace and prosperity, but more so, perhaps, during periods of war, famine and displacement, these social constructs serve as the backbone for life. For many, being part of one is a means for survival, an extended family, a cohort of support. Within the global health field, these communities become the bridge – our bridge – to people.
In order to best serve the communities with which we work, it is essential to engage with its members to assess what is needed, what is wanted, and what can be done. Moreover, they are our key partners and implementers in success, and lay at the crux of long-term sustainability.
Much of public health’s success has been incumbent upon community members who are able to advise and assist practitioners – whether it is an immunization campaign, a post-disaster assessment, establishing new programs, etc. Community-based health has been instrumental in providing greater access to basic services, often solving logistical, social or economic obstacles to acquiring care. The community health worker has been a crucial part of the public health landscape, delivering health services with his or her omniscient knowledge of individuals within the community, as well as local nuances that outsiders might not be aware of. Partnering with local leaders, managers and champions as well as building capacity at the community level are also essential components of success and again, sustainability.
Anyone who is concerned about the health of the individual, the family and the larger community – the local leader, the program manager, the health worker, the multilateral organization, the private sector, the policy-maker, the researcher, the public health advocate – is, in essence, involved in community health.
A little more than 35 years ago, the Global Health Council decided to bring together partners who are committed to improving the lives of the world’s poor to celebrate, share and learn from each other. This year, the tradition continues as the Council’s Annual International Conference dedicates itself to exploring the cycle of community health issues. What are the problems? What are the solutions? Did the solutions have an impact?
This year, the Council is soliciting abstracts in two subject areas. The first is our theme of Community Health, and the other pertains to the key issues of global health that are at the heart of our work around the world.
Theme-Related Abstracts
The key to achieving health in the community is based not only on getting services to the community, but also engaging and empowering communities to be the catalysts of change and bearers of success.
The Global Health Council invites abstracts that address any issues related to improving the well-being of the community and of all individuals within that community, including any of the questions or issues below.
Delivering: How can we partner with communities to meet the needs that they have identified?
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How are the root causes of problems being addressed? How do we get services to the communities? How do we get through “the last mile”? How do we make the disease-specific programs work at the community level? What is the appropriate balance between vertical programs and horizontal partnerships? How can vertical programs be incorporated into community-based approaches in a way that strengthens the existing health-care system?
Serving: What are the new and innovative models of sustainable, community-based programs? How do you adapt innovations that have proven successes in one community to another community? Across communities? What community interventions have made a difference? What has been their impact on the health of the community?
Engaging: How do communities think? How do we get to know a community, its needs, strengths, and its assets? What is the process for finding out the communities’ needs and strengths (versus telling the community what it needs or how it is weak)? How do we learn from the community? How do you build partnerships with communities which are built on mutual respect and solidarity? How do we build off existing community successes to create more sustainable partnerships? How do we engage with communities so they truly own the programs, research and policies in the end? How are the poor and marginalized (and women) integrated into the “community”? How are their problems/issues being addressed – by them (empowerment) and by an organization working with them (programs), and by changing society’s attitudes and practices (policies, advocacy and social justice)?
Leading: How do community leaders affect behavior change in the community? How do community leaders get proven interventions into the households? How do programs help to develop community leadership? What mechanisms can be put in place to ensure continuing professional development of the community leaders? How are community leaders involved in the process of planning, implementation , monitoring and evaluation? How do community leaders inform and enhance regional and national policies, programs and research? How are communities encouraged and facilitated to address their own problems, using their own resources and partnering with others (governments, private sector, NGOs, national and international agencies, donors, etc.)?
Key Health Issue-Related Abstracts
The key to achieving the goal of improving the health of the world’s poorest citizens is to learn and to share the latest findings related to new and innovative programs and policies in the key health issues of global health – child health and survival, women’s and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, other major infectious diseases, among others.
The Council also seeks abstracts with findings on the cutting edge of research, practice and policy that are innovative, visionary and in the vanguard of global health.
The Global Health Council invites you to submit an abstract addressing the important lessons that can help improve overall health status and reduce health inequities.
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