Community participation and health: Towards the study of human resources in the development of local health care

Abstract

Thts article begins with the observation that community participation in health Involves the activation of local material and human resources. It follows from this that the study of local resources is essential in planning community health care. With this in mind, the article discusses family health care as a key human resource in handling disease. With a case study from rural Transkei, the article illustrates the role and functions of family health care. Finally, family health care is assessed as a potentially viable unit for stimulating community participation in local health and health care.