Countries in South America are striving to reach the World Health Organization's goal of 'Health for all by the year 2000' through a comprehensive primary care strategy developed at local level under the guidance of the Pan American Health Organisation. The PAHO says, in the fourth of a series of reports on 'Communicating for Health', that the urgent need to improve the health status of economically and socially disadvantaged parts of the population ranks high among the challenges facing the region.