International Journal of Quantitative and Qualitative Research Method Vol.2, No.1, pp.1-7, June 2014 Published by European Centre for Research Training and Development UK (www.ea-journals.org) 1 COLLABORATIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE HEALTH NEEDS/ASSETS OF IKOT ISHIE COMMUNITY, CALABAR, NIGERIA Ndep, Antor O. Health Education/Health Promotion Unit Department of Public Health University of Calabar, Calabar Inuesokan, Aprigabofa A. Department of Public Health University of Calabar, Calabar Akpan, Julius O. Department of Public Health University of Calabar, Calabar Etuk, Idongesit D. Department of Public Health University of Calabar, Calabar Nkanga, Uduak E. Department of Public Health University of Calabar, Calabar ABSTRACT: Identification of health needs within Nigeria has often been done with a top- down approach where policy and funding determines what health needs to focus on for interventions. Communicable diseases such as malaria have been studied extensively however; lack of cohesiveness and continuity often derails the gains achieved. The objective is to work collaboratively with stakeholders in Ikot Ishie Community in identifying their health needs/assets. A community organizing exercise using Key Informant Interviews, observation and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) was implemented. The findings suggest that as a community embedded in a malaria endemic area, people are aware of malarial signs and symptoms and can easily identify its management/preventive measures. Persistent self- diagnoses/treatment of malaria, lack of information about the causes, signs/symptoms of other conditions and poor patronage of the primary health centre for preventive and early diagnoses of diseases were the identified needs. Collaborative identification of needs/assets builds trust and ownership of interventions, encouraging continuity. KEYWORDS: Self-diagnoses, Malaria, Diabetes, Community ownership, Collaboration, Continuity INTRODUCTION Ikot Ishie community is a clan in Calabar Municipality Local Council. The community is believed to have been founded in 17 th century and named after Ishie who was from Anambra