Basic development needs approach in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: from theory to practice

Poverty and health are mutually reinforcing and deprivation in one area produces negative effects in the other. Unfortunately at the beginning of the 21st century, the number of people living in absolute poverty continues to rise with grim health consequences. Many studies have clearly established that health is related to and influenced by a complex of environmental, social and economic factors ultimately related to each other. Therefore, actions undertaken outside of the health sector are likely to have effects much greater than those obtained through the health sector alone. Thus, the countries of the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region have adopted basic development needs to address all the determinants of health collectively through community empowerment in order to transform social lifestyles and enhance human development. This article presents the contribution made by basic development needs in empowering local communities and vulnerable groups to acquire their essential needs through the efficient use of available resources. The assessment surveys of the ongoing programme conducted periodically in different countries have demonstrated significant reduction in poverty levels and improvement in quality of life indices pertaining to a wide range of fields, including health, nutrition and other social sectors.