To promote the active participation of the people or communities in taking care of and being responsible for their own health, the following measures should be taken :
1. Promote the participatory role of community organizations or communities in solving their own health problems
Community organizations or communities themselves could effectively participate in solving their own health problems or managing the health service centres to a considerable extent. This may mean total decentralization of authority to the community or joint undertakings depending upon the absorptive capability of the community and the readiness to participate in development activities whiles bearing in mind changing trends and future. It has been observed that some strong and viable community organizations or communities have been able to play an effective role in environmental conservation, which has favourable effects upon people’s health.
2. Promote the people’s participation in protecting their rights in reguard to health
The people’s active participation in all aspects of health development should be promoted, wheather this be consumer protection, defending their rights when facing problems concerning health services, forming group for the purpose of information dissemination, scruitinizing and following up publicity on products that may be harmful to health, or simply helping each other in primary health care at the community level to avoid unnecessary visits to health centres or hospitals.
3. Encourage individuals to have an appropriate health behaviour
Each individual should be adequately informed about the health risks arising from undesirable behaviour such as cigarette smoking, drinking, drug addition or other high-risk behaviours. Aside from direct dissemination of information on health, regulatory and financial measures such as increasing taxation of consumers goods that may be harmful to health should be introduced. Campaigns for building up socials values among the general public to reduce, avoid or give up high-risk behaviours should also be organized.
