Building Community Involvement	For this module, view
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Public health experience so far points to a growing need for new mechanisms to mobilize and support health development.  It has also highlighted the benefits that can accrue when these mechanisms build on local capacities and interests while still complementing the plans and provision made by central and regional level government.  Where local concerns and human capacities are not involved and utilized, public sector health provision and approaches can easily prove inadequate to meet the health care aspirations of the people. Whatever form the new mechanisms take, this experience indicates that a major emphasis will be needed on: firstly, the social and health characteristics, as well as the needs of the communities or population groups concerned, and secondly, on providing more comprehensive and egalitarian coverage, and access to services.

This module introduces tools for working with local groups, mobilizing them from both within and outside the organization and creating new paths toward improved health outcomes.  It provides the resources to deal with the changes that MEP will bring to individuals and to the Site.

Rationale

An understanding of the essential factors relating to community involvement is crucial for ensuring and maintaining organizational success.  Recently, there have been important changes in how the role of the community is regarded.  If decentralization leads to local decision-making by amassing of all stakeholders (including communities, private-sector businesses, local politicians, and health managers), there will be a greater focus on local problems, and as a result, resources will be more effectively allocated to achieve local solutions. 

Aims

This module aims to develop your knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours necessary for redefining roles and responsibilities to better support both the people you serve, and the staff at management levels closest to the population.  It seeks to show how you as a health manager can adopt leadership practices to carry out your new role and ultimately make decentralization work. 

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