Algeria Country Brief
Community Health: Policy and Implementation Landscape Mapping in the Middle East and North Africa Region 2024
Highlights
Country Context
Algeria is a country located in North Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Often considered a gateway between Africa and Europe, the country operates under a semi-presidential republic political system.
Algerian politics function within the framework of a constitutional semi-presidential republic, where the President of the Republic is the head of state, while the Prime Minister is the head of government. The government holds the responsibility for exercising executive power. Since its independence, the country's administrative divisions have been modified several times. Today, Algeria is divided into 58 wilayas (provinces), 553 daïras (districts), and 1,541 baladiyahs (communes or municipalities).
Overview of Community Health
In Algeria, the absence of a dedicated national policy for community health and the lack of formal recognition for community health workers (CHWs) present significant challenges. However, alternative health policies exist, such as the "Santé de Proximité" model, which aims to bring health care services closer to populations living in rural and remote areas.
This model is based on activities organized around primary care facilities, mobile units, and medical caravans, providing basic care (consultations, screenings, vaccinations) while also raising awareness about prevention. Community health also includes initiatives led by civil society organizations (CSOs), the private sector, and volunteer efforts, all contributing to reducing inequalities in access to health care.
