ABSTRACT
We present two cases of major public health challenges: HIV/AIDS in Zambia and a nuclear power plant accident in Japan. Our focus is on the roles of frontline community workers: teachers in Zambia and public health nurses in Japan. While we recognize the striking differences between these two cases-the obvious differences in job functions as well as the economic, social, and geographic differences between the two countries-we are also drawn to uncovering similar patterns and challenges for community workers. Both teachers and public health nurses are often members of the community to which they are delivering services. In these two cases, both faced unplanned events and challenges that were not part of their formal training or regular functions.
