The Community Is My University A Voice from the Grass Roots on Rural Health and Development

As a result of community research and community actions through the engagement of thousands of people organized in Care Groups, trachoma has virtually been eliminated in large parts of the Northern Province of South Africa. In this new book, based on a series of interviews with the main community organizer, Selina Maphorogo, the pitfalls and struggle to achieve successful community participation in health is elaborated. This book is not written from the point of view of the professional, but is the personal account of Selina as a grassroots worker. Her view on the how hospital personnel and other health professionals and administrators deal with community health workers and communities is revealing if not shocking. The book attempts to highlight the communication gap between health providers and the community. Because of the many examples of lessons learned, this book is a must for all those who are engaged in community based health care.