Abstract:

Since the Alma Ata declaration of 1978, Community participation (CP) has been recognized as one of the core strategies of achieving the goals of Health for All (HFA). The benefits of CP are numerous to the communities, the health systems and Governments, This review article described the nature and dimensions of Community Participation (CP) and its role and scope in successful implementation of different components of Primary Health Care. With the near collapse of PHC system in Nigeria, health care systems had suffered with most emphasis on curative health care that does not involve inputs from the local communities. Community participation is not without challenges but most are surmountable, thus it is important to appreciate the various levels in Nigeria in order to be able to operationalize CP towards realizing of set goals and objective.

References:

1.      Curry LA¹, Alpern R, Webster TR, Byam P, Zerihun A, Tarakeshwar N et al. Community perspectives on roles and responsibilities for strengthening primary health care in rural Ethiopia. Glob Public Health. 2012;7(9):961-73. doi: 10.1080/17441692.2012.686114. Epub 2012 May 23.

2.      Choudhury SN. Holistic Modality of Participatory Interface Mechanism for Integrated Health Care in Rural West Bengal, Institute of Child Health Calcutta (Mimeo.) 1985;2(4)45-60

3.      Kironde S, Klaasen S. What motivates lay volunteers in high burden but resource-limited tuberculosis programmes? Perceptions from the Northern Cape province, South Africa. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2001

4.      Mchunu GG¹, Gwele NS. The meaning of community involvement in health: the perspective of primary health care communities. Curationis. 2005 May;28(2):30-7.

5.      Preston R1, Waugh H, Larkins S, Taylor J.. Community participation in rural primary health care: intervention or approach? Aust J Prim Health. 2010;16(1):4-16.

6.      Sule SS. Community participation in health and development. Niger J Med. 2004 Jul-Sep;13(3):276-81.

7.      World Health Organization, author. Global Tuberculosis Programme, Global Tuberculosis Control - WHO Report 2000. Geneva: WHO/CDS/TB/2000.275;