6-17
Al first some students may find it difficult to look at these questions. Their
thoughts may be deeply buried—especially if they come from families that have
been taught to accept their situation and keep silent.
Other students may be eager to question established authority and work for fairer
leadership. But they may be unaware of some of the problems that can arise. Caution
is as essential as courage. To help get health workers thinking about both the possible
courses of action and the difficulties that could arise, you might:
• Invite experienced health workers to talk with the group about their own
successes and disappointments in working with different community leaders.
• Tell or read stories of experiences from other, but similar, areas. (The three
stories on the next pages, about village water systems in different parts of
the world, are examples. See also p. 26-3 and 26-36.)
• Use role playing to explore problems and possibilities in dealing with
different leaders. (See Chapter 14, and also the Village Theater Show on
p. 27-19.)
It is important for health workers to remember that no leader
is all good or all bad. One of their biggest challenges is to help
bring out the best in any leaders they may work with.
WARNING: It is very important for people’s health that health workers help
the community look critically at local leadership. But it is important to the
health workers’ health that they do this with due caution and judgement. Both
instructors and health workers need to weigh carefully the possible benefits and
risks in their particular situation.
To go forward
there must be a
balance between
PRECAUTION and RISK.