ABSTRACT
Given the growing inequalities around the globe, this chapter will point towards a possible framework to reduce the risks of infectious diseases, including TB. Within low- and middle-income countries, the challenges of treatment can be reduced by introducing risk reduction mechanisms through education, public awareness, and community-based health interventions. This chapter will critically examine the possibilities of communicable disease risk reduction in low- and middle-income settings. Further, this chapter will critically analyse the examples of community-based health programmes in Cuba and Sri Lanka that could be implemented in the developing regions with high population density. The Cuban model is based on high levels of community participation, access to primary care and aggressive public health approaches, which has successfully campaigned against infectious diseases. The Sri Lankan model is a combination of community responsibility, access to primary care, and strong public health approaches, which has successfully eliminated malaria. Both the countries have strong public education mechanism, and in terms of combating TB, there are possible learning opportunities from countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Cuba. While investing on treatments, and overall development, this chapter will present a framework that can be employed at community level in reducing the infectious disease risks.
