Primary health care, PHC, goes beyond just treating a patient or an illness. It entails the community as a whole. It also brings in stakeholders in government and other relevant places in order to improve the healthcare system in general. As such, PHC provides wholesome treatment to individuals in the society. These are some of the facts about primary health care Somalia policy makers may benefit from.
One of the principles that govern PHC is equity in distribution. This means that health care should be provided in an equitable manner to all individuals in the society, regardless of their gender, age, societal class and race among others. In this regard there is a need to ensure that healthcare centers are put up in the whole country and are accessible to all.
For effective working of PHC, participation of the community is crucial. Members of the community should be educated on the best way take of care of their health. This information can either come from local healthcare workers or it can be outsourced from other experts in the field. The community needs to be keen on implementing what they have been taught. Some of the activities they can participate in include use of pit latrines and keeping the environment clean and free of bushes.
Developing the health workforce is another way in which healthcare can be made universal. Healthcare workers including nurses, doctors, laboratory technicians, physiotherapists, among others should be available in within a couple of kilometers of every village. This is to ensure that patients receive attention as soon as they need it. The concerned stakeholders (government and non-governmental organizations), therefore, need to train and employ more healthcare workers in a bid to achieve this.
In spite of advances in technology in science today, efficient health care provision may not be possible for some of these communities. This is mainly due to the absence of the necessary infrastructure. It should, however, be noted that for technology to be successful in a given healthcare setting, it needs to be fair in pricing for patients. The staff should also be able to handle the equipment with ease. In addition, most machines require electricity, which may not be available in remote villages.
Evidently, success in universal health care is dependent on multiple sectors and not just the healthcare sector. Some of these sectors include engineering, agriculture, societal organizations and the education sector. Agriculture, for instance, is crucial in providing food security for the community. The engineering technical unit serves to provide good roads and electricity where it is needed.
Over the years, PHC has undergone tremendous changes in a bid to achieve set targets. One of the changes that primary health care has gone through is coming up with what is known as selective PHC. In this concept, the targets are customized to the community in question. Set goals are more measurable and specific, based on availability of resources. It encompasses principles such as breastfeeding, monitoring of growth in children, immunization, family planning, among other indicators.
In summary, primary healthcare is important in achieving universal health. It is multidisciplinary concept that brings together various sectors in order to provide maximum effect. While it may take some time to reach its peak, PHC can eventually be realized as long as there is patience and the right attitude.
One of the principles that govern PHC is equity in distribution. This means that health care should be provided in an equitable manner to all individuals in the society, regardless of their gender, age, societal class and race among others. In this regard there is a need to ensure that healthcare centers are put up in the whole country and are accessible to all.
For effective working of PHC, participation of the community is crucial. Members of the community should be educated on the best way take of care of their health. This information can either come from local healthcare workers or it can be outsourced from other experts in the field. The community needs to be keen on implementing what they have been taught. Some of the activities they can participate in include use of pit latrines and keeping the environment clean and free of bushes.
Developing the health workforce is another way in which healthcare can be made universal. Healthcare workers including nurses, doctors, laboratory technicians, physiotherapists, among others should be available in within a couple of kilometers of every village. This is to ensure that patients receive attention as soon as they need it. The concerned stakeholders (government and non-governmental organizations), therefore, need to train and employ more healthcare workers in a bid to achieve this.
In spite of advances in technology in science today, efficient health care provision may not be possible for some of these communities. This is mainly due to the absence of the necessary infrastructure. It should, however, be noted that for technology to be successful in a given healthcare setting, it needs to be fair in pricing for patients. The staff should also be able to handle the equipment with ease. In addition, most machines require electricity, which may not be available in remote villages.
Evidently, success in universal health care is dependent on multiple sectors and not just the healthcare sector. Some of these sectors include engineering, agriculture, societal organizations and the education sector. Agriculture, for instance, is crucial in providing food security for the community. The engineering technical unit serves to provide good roads and electricity where it is needed.
Over the years, PHC has undergone tremendous changes in a bid to achieve set targets. One of the changes that primary health care has gone through is coming up with what is known as selective PHC. In this concept, the targets are customized to the community in question. Set goals are more measurable and specific, based on availability of resources. It encompasses principles such as breastfeeding, monitoring of growth in children, immunization, family planning, among other indicators.
In summary, primary healthcare is important in achieving universal health. It is multidisciplinary concept that brings together various sectors in order to provide maximum effect. While it may take some time to reach its peak, PHC can eventually be realized as long as there is patience and the right attitude.
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