Rural development and, in turn, improved living conditions for the rural population, are fundamental goals of Development Cooperation. In this context, good health is both a prerequisite and the basis for any form of human development. Health is a fundamental right for every human being, yet this right is still denied to many people.

Health has many dimensions
A person’s state of health is determined largely by their diet and the conditions in which they live. The latter includes being able to access health care services when the need arises. The debate on combating poverty tends to focus on food security, in other words on access to adequate supplies of food and drinking water. The quality of the food available is equally important, however. Nutritional status will also depend on how the food is prepared and eaten.   In many developing countries, particularly in rural areas, it is often hard to find health care that is available to all and affordable for the poorest sections of the population. The impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is proving to be a huge burden, especially for women and children.

A multisectoral approach
Health care provision in rural areas is a multisectoral task, and its success depends on the interplay of numerous factors. GTZ has therefore devised target-group-oriented measures aimed at improving the population's nutritional status and health and the provision of health care services. These measures are being implemented in such a way as to ensure that they have a broad impact. Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS into agricultural and rural development is an integral objective in the context of these measures.

GTZ relies on the following methods:

• participation of target groups, thereby fostering self-help potential
• training of advisory service providers (agriculture, nutrition, basic health, HIV/AIDS, etc.)
• specific agricultural support measures to mitigate the negative effects of HIV/AIDS
• supporting public institutions, municipal self-government and private sector service providers (including NGOs)
• coordinating sectoral planning of operations, especially at regional and local level, and improving communication
• public relations work (education, awareness-raising, advice, etc.) using a wide variety of media, methods and techniques.