3.4. Community-centered PHC partnerships for the promotion of health equity
Communities play a vital role in promoting and maintaining good health. Engaging with communities ensures that health interventions and services are tailored to meet local needs, are culturally appropriate, and can be sustained over time. Mobilizing local resources and encouraging collaboration across different sectors enhances the reach and effectiveness of health equity initiatives in PHC. This area of work promotes community partnerships and multistakeholder collaboration to address the social determinants of health (SDH) by leveraging community assets and implementing health promotion strategies in line with a more comprehensive idea of PHC. It prioritizes the mobilization of local resources, the establishment of participatory networks, and the empowerment of community members.
Examples from SIMASHE
Facilitating collaboration between village leaders and health providers to co-develop health plans in Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Under the CONNECT initiative, communities were empowered to participate in identifying health challenges and designing local solutions. Community leaders, health workers and residents collaboratively developed village health plans, integrating culturally relevant approaches and identifying community members in the greatest conditions of vulnerability, for support towards increased health equity.
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Community engagement across settings in Tolosa, Philippines: Through the Healthy Schools approach and the FAITH (Food Always in the Home) project, students participated in school-based backyard farming initiatives. These combined education and efforts to promote healthy eating habits. Parents were also involved, reinforcing these healthy practices at home.
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Training Community Monitors and fostering intercultural health dialogues in Perquenco, Chile: Community members in rural areas received training to promote the use of telehealth strategies. They learned how to access and manage appointments using mobile phones, supporting other community members. This has helped to overcome a significant barrier to accessing remote health care services. Similarly, citizen dialogues with Indigenous communities have been organized, to understand local needs and cultural worldviews, ensuring that primary health care planning is participatory and culturally appropriate.
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Key intervention activities
SIMASHE is continuously seeking examples related to this area of work, including activities for:
- strengthening community networks and local SDH committees to foster equity in PHC.
- empowering local leaders to advocate for SDH and building trust through co-development processes.
- community-based actions for overcoming PHC barriers together.
- promoting cultural competence and intercultural dialogues for improved PHC delivery.
- establishing demonstration hubs for community-based SDH interventions.
- integration of Indigenous traditional medicine into PHC systems.