Objective: Develop a community lead network of volunteers, professionals and local governments to address the health related issues in the community.
Methods: Traning of volunteers Train professionals Enlist support of the local governements Form volunteer groups which prioritise the local health needs Use the existing facilities and supplement what is lacking with the help of the community and local governemnts.
Results: The programme is running in eleven panchayats of Malappuram District in India. In places where it has been implemented, this initiative has changed the way people look at health related issues. The community's role in addressing the health issues is reinforced and it is no longer considered as a responsibility of the Government and health care professionals alone.
