It is essential to build effective health systems to deliver universal health coverage, especially for low-middle income countries. This action guide presents key practical actions within primary health care that contribute to promote public and community health, prevent disease, improve living conditions, water, sanitation, nutrition, immunization, and encourage the adoption of healthy lifestyles. Written with a particular focus on low-middle income countries, it explains key approaches and provides practical methods to developing effective health services and preventive programmes, including for hospitals, health centres, and community services, and particularly for mother, neonatal, and child health. It also explores the operational, gender, social, and economic influences on health and how to choose the best intervention strategies. This third edition has been thoroughly updated on communicable and non-communicable diseases, including new and revised chapters on health systems based on the World Health Organization (WHO) 'building blocks'. It contains real examples, illustrations, and case histories to bring the subject to life for the reader. The book covers key services and programmes including those for tuberculosis, HIV, malaria, diarrhoeal diseases, and the integrated management of childhood and adult diseases. Throughout the book the editors ensure that key public health skills are described clearly and comprehensively, such as epidemiology, managing medicines, disease control, health financing, and implementing health services and programmes. This book ensures this valuable information is easily accessible for all doctors, community nurses, managers, and other professionals in public health, whether in training or in practice.

"'The authors tackle the daunting field of public health with verve and intelligence... a very practical and readable work... a reliable and realistic introduction to the subject of helping to improve the health of all our communities.'" - Tropical Doctor