Conference on Community participation in health and sustainable development
Brussels, April 2009
Conference on Community participation in health and sustainable development
On 21 April 2009 the Red Cross EU Office, the Commission and Action for Global Health organised a conference on "Community participation in health and sustainable development".
The objective of the conference was to share experiences and to focus on:
How to ensure a meaningful community participation in decision-making?
How to better support the role of community health workers in strengthening health systems?
What role for donors and partners in supporting community systems strengthening?
Session 1 specifically focused on The role of community in strengthening health systems and was chaired by Dominique Praplan, Head of Health and Care Unit at the IFRC (Geneva). The objective was to discuss the role of volunteers in community health workers and the importance of community-based health care. Examples of Red Cross programmes were often quoted in examples like the "Hang Up Keep up" campaigns on mosquito nets. Michael Charles, Malaria and Community Health Delegate for Southern/Eastern Africa Zone at the IFRC made a presentation on community health workers and the role of volunteers, explaining the crucial role played by the Red Cross as auxiliary to the governments.
The conclusions and recommendations of this conference were be presented by the Red Cross EU Office and Action for Global Health during the Member states Council meeting to the EU health attachés and Development attachés on Wednesday 29 April 2009.
For more info and to read the presentations and recommendations contact the Red Cross/EU Office.
