An Introduction To Primary Health Care (PHC)

INTRODUCTION

Primary Health Care(PHC)

Primary health care(PHC) is considered to be:

• Highly effective

• Low cost

• Culturally appropriate and

• Best way of provision of quality health care(ewww.who.int/topics/primary_health_care/en/)

These are the benefits that accrue to the community where PHC is the mode of health care provision. This is possible since PHC puts emphasis on:

• Preventive medicine

• Child birth assistance

• First Aid

• Basic drug dispensing

• Nutrition

• Clean water

• Sanitation and

• Health Education

The main vehicle that moves PHC forward are the community health providers. These are members of the community(CHW) who have undergone 6 to 9 months of intensive training and are supervised, undergo regular training and are able to handle 75% of all the diseases(illnesses), health problems of both individuals and the community. The area of coverage by the CHW include:

• First Aid for injuries

• Immunization

• Vaccination

• Provision of antibiotics

• Oral rehydration therapy

• Growth monitoring

• Nutrition Education/Information

• Micronutrient supplementation(vitamin A, Iron)

• Maternal and Child health

There is a referral procedure, where the CHW can refer seriously ill patients to the nearest health facility. Countries like China, Costa Rica, Cuba and other countries in Africa have used the PHC model of health care provision to great success and has resulted in the lowering of infant, child and maternal mortality rates and raised the over all life expectancy and other health indicators.

When the national health systems of health facilities, doctors, health personnel, nutritionists and public health workers around the CHWs who are well trained and motivated is able to provide a superior healthcare to the comm...

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...2 health policy project USAID

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