2-10
PERSONAL QUALITIES, ATTITUDES,
AND CONCERNS
Of far more importance than age, sex, experience, education, and even place of
origin, are a health worker’s personal qualities—his or her understanding of people
and their needs. It is essential that the health worker identify with the poor and have a
strong sense of fairness and social justice. To some extent, these attitudes can grow
and develop during training. But the seeds need to be there already. People’s attitudes
are far more easily strengthened than changed.
Perhaps the most important quality to look for
when selecting a community health worker is
the person’s concern for social justice.
Does he treat other people as his equals?
Is his first concern for those in greatest need?
This is a scene from a ‘Farmworkers’ Theater’ production in Ajoya, Mexico. It was
presented to help villagers recognize the differences between a good health worker
and the typical doctor.