Understanding Health Literacy: Health Policy and the challenge of grassroots participation

Health literacy of a nation is a crucial tool in the fight against various epidemics. This is usually built through candid health promotion strategies. Zimbabwe is one of the hardest hit by such outbreaks as cholera and typhoid that has claimed more than four thousand lives in 2008. This paper therefore looks at the National Health Strategy crafted by the inclusive government that came into force in 2009. Utilising in-depth studies from Epworth informal settlement, the paper reveals that despite the fact that government crafts good policies, they are not shared by the poor. The socio-economic circumstances the poor find themselves in compel them to shun health promotion programme. Government should therefore make some efforts to improve the living standards of informal settlers if its health policies are to be effective.