Primary Health Care:
It is the
essential health care based on practical, scientifically, sound and social
acceptable methods and technology made universally accessible to individual and
families in the community through their full participation and at a cost that
the community can afford to maintain at every stage of their development, in
the spirit of self reliance and self determination.
essential health care based on practical, scientifically, sound and social
acceptable methods and technology made universally accessible to individual and
families in the community through their full participation and at a cost that
the community can afford to maintain at every stage of their development, in
the spirit of self reliance and self determination.
Primary
health care forms an integral part of the country’s health system of which it
is the central function and the main focus of the overall social-economic
development of the community. PHC is the first level of contact of an
individual, family and even the community.
health care forms an integral part of the country’s health system of which it
is the central function and the main focus of the overall social-economic
development of the community. PHC is the first level of contact of an
individual, family and even the community.
So there are some policies of Primary Health Care
because they are the fundamental guidelines which are used to ensure that
programmes achieve set objectives. These principles guide the individuals of
programmes to achieve success. Therefore Primary Health Care has these
guidelines that will enable it achieve its objectives.
because they are the fundamental guidelines which are used to ensure that
programmes achieve set objectives. These principles guide the individuals of
programmes to achieve success. Therefore Primary Health Care has these
guidelines that will enable it achieve its objectives.
1.
Community
Participation
Community
Participation
2.
Essential
Services
Essential
Services
3.
Intersectoral
Approach (Multisectoral Collaboration).
Intersectoral
Approach (Multisectoral Collaboration).
4.
Integrated
Services.
Integrated
Services.
5.
Equity
and Justice
Equity
and Justice
6.
Self-Reliance
Self-Reliance
7.
Accessibility.
Accessibility.
8.
Appropriate
Technology
Appropriate
Technology
9.
Affordability
Affordability
10. Political Commitment or Will.
11. Availability.
1.
Community Participation: The challenge at the Primary level of care is to
establish a health care system that will touch the lives of every citizen and
tackle the conditions that cause the highest mortality and morbidity through
community participation. The system must integrate preventive, promotive, and
curative services as well as aspects of rehabilitation. Primary Health Care
emphasizes on full participation by the respective communities for it to
achieve success. The realization in the past is that communities have been left
out in decision-making and actions that have direct bearing on their own
health. These communities wear the shoes and they know best where the shoes
pinch most. It. believed that the communities can make contributions improve
the quality of decision-making in health act and also be partners in monitoring
and evaluating the decisions and actions through participation.
Community Participation: The challenge at the Primary level of care is to
establish a health care system that will touch the lives of every citizen and
tackle the conditions that cause the highest mortality and morbidity through
community participation. The system must integrate preventive, promotive, and
curative services as well as aspects of rehabilitation. Primary Health Care
emphasizes on full participation by the respective communities for it to
achieve success. The realization in the past is that communities have been left
out in decision-making and actions that have direct bearing on their own
health. These communities wear the shoes and they know best where the shoes
pinch most. It. believed that the communities can make contributions improve
the quality of decision-making in health act and also be partners in monitoring
and evaluating the decisions and actions through participation.
“Community Participation is the process by which
individuals and families assume responsibility for their own health and welfare
and for those of the community and develop the capacity to contribute to them
and community’s development. They come to know their situation better and are
motivated to solve their community problems.” (WHO, 1978).
individuals and families assume responsibility for their own health and welfare
and for those of the community and develop the capacity to contribute to them
and community’s development. They come to know their situation better and are
motivated to solve their community problems.” (WHO, 1978).
2.
Essential Services: This means essential services which promote health
such as keeping a clean environment, good water supplies, care of mothers
during pregnancy and childbirth, nutrition of children, immunization, early
treatment of disease, etc. must be delivered, pursued and provided through
practical, scientifically sound and acceptable methods by communities.
Essential Services: This means essential services which promote health
such as keeping a clean environment, good water supplies, care of mothers
during pregnancy and childbirth, nutrition of children, immunization, early
treatment of disease, etc. must be delivered, pursued and provided through
practical, scientifically sound and acceptable methods by communities.
3. Intersectoral (Multisectoral
Collaboration): No sector involved in socio-economic development can function
properly in isolation. Primary Health Care too requires the support of other
sectors; these sectors can also serve as entry points for the development and
implementation of Primary Health Care PHC requires the collaboration of health and
other social and economic development in the implementation of Primary Health Care.
Collaboration): No sector involved in socio-economic development can function
properly in isolation. Primary Health Care too requires the support of other
sectors; these sectors can also serve as entry points for the development and
implementation of Primary Health Care PHC requires the collaboration of health and
other social and economic development in the implementation of Primary Health Care.
4. Integrated Services: The experience in
the past showed that various components of PHC are pursued and delivered,
though successfully on different days. It is necessary that primary health care
resources be coordinated for efficiency and effectiveness. Besides, primary health
care should be provided in an integrated and comprehensive manner such that all
the services required by an individual, a family and community can be obtained
together at anyone visit to a health facility. Thus, time spent going to the
facility is reduced.
the past showed that various components of PHC are pursued and delivered,
though successfully on different days. It is necessary that primary health care
resources be coordinated for efficiency and effectiveness. Besides, primary health
care should be provided in an integrated and comprehensive manner such that all
the services required by an individual, a family and community can be obtained
together at anyone visit to a health facility. Thus, time spent going to the
facility is reduced.
5. Equity
and Justice: Government
is determined to set in motion the process that will ensure that every person
obtains the health services he or she needs, when and where it is needed, at a
cost t community and country can afford. Primary Health Care, therefore,
emphasizes on equity, equal distribution of health facilities, health personnel
and other supplies between the rural and urban areas. Inequality or mal-distribution
of these resources in favour of urban areas will not augur well for Primary
Health Care. Therefore, facilities and institutions should be equally
distributed in the spirit of social justice and equity.
and Justice: Government
is determined to set in motion the process that will ensure that every person
obtains the health services he or she needs, when and where it is needed, at a
cost t community and country can afford. Primary Health Care, therefore,
emphasizes on equity, equal distribution of health facilities, health personnel
and other supplies between the rural and urban areas. Inequality or mal-distribution
of these resources in favour of urban areas will not augur well for Primary
Health Care. Therefore, facilities and institutions should be equally
distributed in the spirit of social justice and equity.
6. Self-Reliance: All health problems cannot be solved once owing to
financia1human, material and other resources. Therefore the need arises for us
to go at a pace that takes into consideration these resources and constraints.
Self-reliance involves skills and a cluster of qualities that sustains an
individual under adverse conditions. It also involves confidence in an
individual’s ability to work effectively under those circumstances and a
problem solving action towards the confronting obstacles. It is necessary for
health workers to develop skills and strategy they rely on to solve health
problems in all circumstances so as to sustain primary health care.
financia1human, material and other resources. Therefore the need arises for us
to go at a pace that takes into consideration these resources and constraints.
Self-reliance involves skills and a cluster of qualities that sustains an
individual under adverse conditions. It also involves confidence in an
individual’s ability to work effectively under those circumstances and a
problem solving action towards the confronting obstacles. It is necessary for
health workers to develop skills and strategy they rely on to solve health
problems in all circumstances so as to sustain primary health care.
7. Accessibility:
Primary Health Care should be within the reach of
the individual, family and community through easy means of delivering services
such that people can benefit from the services. PHC should also be close to the
people.
Primary Health Care should be within the reach of
the individual, family and community through easy means of delivering services
such that people can benefit from the services. PHC should also be close to the
people.
8. Appropriate
Technology: Primary
Health Care requires the development, adaptation and application of simple
equipment, techniques and methods that people can afford and use to solve
health problems. Appropriate technology is a fashionable way to say doing
things in low cost, effective ways that local people can manage and control
which leads to self-reliance. Developing workers often use the term appropriate
technology to refer to practical, simple THINGS such as tools, instruments or
machines that people can make use of and repair them using local resources. But
appropriate technology also refers to METHODS, ways of doing, learning and
problem solving technique that are adapted to peoples’ needs, customs and
abilities. How Appropriate? A specific technology to determine whether a
certain thing or method is appropriate for your area, you may ask yourself the following
questions.
Technology: Primary
Health Care requires the development, adaptation and application of simple
equipment, techniques and methods that people can afford and use to solve
health problems. Appropriate technology is a fashionable way to say doing
things in low cost, effective ways that local people can manage and control
which leads to self-reliance. Developing workers often use the term appropriate
technology to refer to practical, simple THINGS such as tools, instruments or
machines that people can make use of and repair them using local resources. But
appropriate technology also refers to METHODS, ways of doing, learning and
problem solving technique that are adapted to peoples’ needs, customs and
abilities. How Appropriate? A specific technology to determine whether a
certain thing or method is appropriate for your area, you may ask yourself the following
questions.
·
Is it
acceptable to the local people?
Is it
acceptable to the local people?
·
Do they
(or will they) use it effectively?
Do they
(or will they) use it effectively?
·
Will it
help to improve the well being of those in greatest need?
Will it
help to improve the well being of those in greatest need?
·
Is it low
cost and efficient?
Is it low
cost and efficient?
·
Does it
make full use of local resources, traditions and, abilities?
Does it
make full use of local resources, traditions and, abilities?
·
Does it
take into consideration any local factors such as geography, climate and
traditions and abilities?
Does it
take into consideration any local factors such as geography, climate and
traditions and abilities?
·
Is it
something that local people can easily understand, afford, and repair by
themselves? PHC requires reliance on appropriate technology.
Is it
something that local people can easily understand, afford, and repair by
themselves? PHC requires reliance on appropriate technology.
Appropriate Technology for Health (ATH) is to
encourage self-sufficiency in solving health problems. The aim is to introduce,
adapt and develop health technologies that are appropriate to needs and
resources especially of developing countries.
encourage self-sufficiency in solving health problems. The aim is to introduce,
adapt and develop health technologies that are appropriate to needs and
resources especially of developing countries.
“Technology includes any methods, procedures,
techniques, equipment or other tools used to solve a health problem in a simple
acceptable, economical and effective way” (WHO 1998).
techniques, equipment or other tools used to solve a health problem in a simple
acceptable, economical and effective way” (WHO 1998).
9. Affordability:
Primary Health Care should be delivered at the
lowest possible cost. Primary Health care delivery should be cheap. The
services should be affordable to all groups of people in the community whether
rural or urban.
Primary Health Care should be delivered at the
lowest possible cost. Primary Health care delivery should be cheap. The
services should be affordable to all groups of people in the community whether
rural or urban.
10. Political Commitment or Will: Government approach to primary Health Care should
be in such a way as to commit resources in money, material and manpower for the
implementation of primary health care programmes. Government of the day at the
federal, state and local levels should be committed to the tenets of primary
health care and ensure its sustainability.
be in such a way as to commit resources in money, material and manpower for the
implementation of primary health care programmes. Government of the day at the
federal, state and local levels should be committed to the tenets of primary
health care and ensure its sustainability.
11. Availability: Efforts should
be made to make PHC available especially essential drugs and other supplies
required in the centre so that clients will achieve their objectives of
attending the centres. Any other thing that the staff should recommend for the
clients must be things that are locally available so as to curtail unnecessary
hardship on the people. Primary Health Care should not have any hindrance in
the provision and utilization of the services. The care should be available all
the time and everywhere and such care comprises preventive, promotive, curative
and rehabilitative.
be made to make PHC available especially essential drugs and other supplies
required in the centre so that clients will achieve their objectives of
attending the centres. Any other thing that the staff should recommend for the
clients must be things that are locally available so as to curtail unnecessary
hardship on the people. Primary Health Care should not have any hindrance in
the provision and utilization of the services. The care should be available all
the time and everywhere and such care comprises preventive, promotive, curative
and rehabilitative.
