The Community Health Fair as an International Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Strategy

Abstract

Since the time of Florence Nightingale, the nurse’s role as a health promoter has been valued. There are opportunities for nurses to participate in health promotion and disease prevention at all levels of prevention. Because health problems extend beyond our national borders, this also requires a global view of health needs and health care that must be addressed within our nursing education system. Health promotion and disease prevention activities present a unique challenge in a developing country where the language and lifestyle may be unfamiliar and, at best, the resources are limited. This article will describe the use of a community health fair as a primary prevention and health promotion activity in the rural mountain area of Nicaragua. The process as well as the challenges will be discussed and include implications for use in any developing country with a focus on culturally competent care.