Community health is the part of medicine which is concerned with the health of the whole population and the prevention of disease from which it suffers. It does this by making a community identification of which diseases are major and which can be averted, and then acceptable control programmes are arranged. The difficulty of how to do this emerges when there is only a limited quantity of money to be spent on the medical services. The limited amount of money makes it necessary to work out which among the important and preventable diseases are the priorities, and then to decide on the most effective control programmes that can be afforded. The theory of community health is presented by studying the stages in the development of diseases; the levels and available methods of prevention; the health needs and demands of a community; the concepts of population coverage and at-risk groups of people.;, and the organization of basic health services. The need to make a community diagnosis in order to select priorities for community health programmes is outlined. Community health activities are activities that are focused at preserving or upgrading the health of a population or community. Conservation of exact birth and death records, preservation of the food and water supply and engaging in fund drives for optional health organizations such as the American Lung Association are examples of community health activities.
