Summary of COMMUNITY HEALTH

What is a Community? A community is a group of people (a large or small group) living in a certain geographical area and working together for a common goal. They share the same resources such as water, climatic and geographic conditions, health services, administration and leadership, as well as disadvantages such as shortages, risks and dangers. The community is made up of individual persons and each of these individuals belongs to a family. The functions of a community include: • Transmitting and sharing information, ideas and beliefs • Educating its children about their culture (socialising) and welcoming newcomers into the group’s culture (acculturation) • Producing and distributing services and goods • Providing companionship and support to individual members and smaller groups • Sharing and utilising space for living, schools, health facilities, fields, roads etc. • Protecting individual and group rights and welfare Characteristics of a Healthy Community • Safe and healthy environment, relatively free from natural and man-made hazards • Community members have high standards of personal hygiene • Adequate supply of wholesome water • Availability of adequate nutritious food • Suitable housing • Harmonious interpersonal relationships among members • Availability and accessibility of health care facilities • Availability and accessibility of suitable educational, social and recreational facilities • Gainful occupational activities (availability of stable or reliable sources of income) • Sound communication infrastructure • Communal approach to and participation in tackling community problems Problems that Affect the Health of the Community • Unsanitary environment • Overcrowding • Poverty • Unclean and inadequate water supply • Lack of nutritious food • Unsafe environment • Epidemic and endemic disease • Unstable family life