Historically, the health status of the people of Bangladesh has been greatly influenced by communicable diseases. Infant mortality, maternal mortality, life expectancy and many other health indicators are determined by diseases like cholera, malaria, kala-azar, tetanus and diphtheria. Contamination of water, prevalence of vectors, poor nutritional status and poor hygienic behaviour increase people’s vulnerability to sickness and death when exposed to various communicable diseases. In recent years, however, measures including provision of safe water, better nutritional interventions, vector management, and strengthened immunization efforts brought improvement in health scenario of the country.

Health service is a basic requirement for every human being and it is liability of government to ensure adequate medical facilities to the people. People involvement is central to all aspects of human development of which health is one. During the last two decades it becomes obvious that people’s participation is not only beneficial but essential in the pursuit of better health objectives. According to the Alma-Ata conference in 1978, community participation was described as an essential component of primary health care.