Community health at the heart of L’Initiative’s actions

Health systems cannot be improved without also strengthening community systems. Indeed, community systems have a specific responsibility and capacities that are tailor-made for identifying, understanding and meeting the needs of marginalised and vulnerable people with little access to health care and other basic services. The community health approach is a key component of the health promotion process. In any discussions on community health, it is important to emphasise the need to involve front-line actors (communities and local health workers) in building lasting solutions and analysing their own health issues. This is why developing primary health care was included as an objective in the Alma Ata Declaration, with a view to “tackling the main health problems in the community – providing promotion, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services as appropriate”.

To reach UNAIDS’ 90-90-90 targets of eradicating malaria and reduce the significant impact of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis on maternal and child mortality (targets 3.1 and 3.2), we need additional and qualified human resources. The current weaknesses in health systems and human resources are a barrier to achieving these targets.