Healthy villages: A guide for communities and community health

By G. Howard, WEDC, with C. Bogh, Bilharziasis Laboratory, Denmark, G. Goldstein, WHO, J. Morgan, UNICEF, A. Prüss, WHO, R. Shaw, Loughborough University, J. Teuton, University of Leicester

Health is determined by many factors, including income, environmental conditions - such as access to adequate sanitation and safe water supplies - individual behaviour, and health services. More than half of the world's population lives in villages and rural areas and most of those without access to safe water sources or basic sanitation are rural dwellers. Enabling rural populations to protect and improve their health is a major challenge worldwide. In response to this, an informal "healthy villages" movement has evolved. A healthy villages project promotes local actions byt community members, mobilizing human and financial resources to build healthy environments and promote healthy behaviours.

This guide is intended to provide community leaders with information to assist them in implementing and sustaining a health villages project. It covers topics such as water and sanitation drainage, waste management, housing quality, domestic and community hygiene, and provision of health services, providing extensive source materials for adaptation to local needs and conditions.

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Publishing and ordering information

ISBN 92 4 154553 4
© World Health Organization 2002
Order N° 1150494
To order a copy, please contact: bookorders@who.int
or Order online. This book is in English and French.