Primary Health Care and health promotion/There were many factors that inspired PHC/Primary care includes

 

Primary Health Care

 

Primary Health Care or PHC refers to “essential Health Care” that is based on scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology. This makes universal health care accessible to all individuals and families in a community. PHC initiatives allow for the full participation of community members in implementation and decision making. Services are provided at a cost that the community and the country can afford at every stage of their development in the spirit of self –determination. In other words, PHS is an approach to health beyond the traditional health care system that focuses on health equity – producing social policy. PHS includes all areas that play role in health such as access to health services, environment, and lifestyle. Thus primary Health Care and public health measures, taken together, may be considered as the cornerstones of universal health systems.

The world health organization or WHO elaborates on the goals of PHC as defined by three major categories “ empowering people and communities, multisectoral policy and action; and primary care and essential public health functions as the core of integrated health services. Based on these definitions, PHC can not only help an individual after being diagnosed with a disease or disorder but actively prevent such issues by understanding the individual as a whole. This ideal model of health care was adopted in the declaration of the international conference on Primary Health Care held in Alma Ata, Kazakhstan in 1978 (known as the “Alma Ata Declaration”), and became a core concept of the World Health Organization's goal of Health for all. The Alma – Ata Conference mobilized a “Primary Health Care movement” of professionals and institutions, governments and civil society organizations, researchers, and grassroots organizations that undertook to tackle the “politically, socially and economically unacceptable” health inequalities in all countries.

There were many factors that inspired PHC;

·         A prominent example is the Barefoot Doctors of China.
·         Primary Health Care is a term used to describe a range of health care providers who work in the community.
·         Any health care professional who is the first point of contact for the health system can be a primary health care provider.
·         Primary Health Care is the first contact a person has with the health system when they have a health problem.
·         Primary Health Care refers to a broad range of health services provided by medical professionals in the community.
·         Primary Health Care includes seeing health professionals help you maintain good health, with regular health checks, health advice when you have concerns, and support for ongoing care.
·         Primary Health Care is the provision of health services, including diagnosis and treatment of a health condition, and support in managing long – term health care including chronic conditions like diabetes.

Primary care includes

·         health promotion,

·         disease prevention,

·         health maintenance counseling,

·         patient education,

·         diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses in a variety of health care settings (e.g., office, inpatient, critical care  long term care, home care, daycare, etc.).

Primary Health Care plays an important role in advising and helping you to prevent illness and maintain good health. Important areas that you should seek advice on include:

·         Managing and stopping smoking

·         Hazardous drinking

·         Stress and depression

·         Poor diet and physical inactivity.

 

 

 

Primary Health Care isrooted in a commitment to social justice and equality and in the recognition of the fundamental right to the highest attainable standard of health, as echoed in Article 25 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and wellbeing of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care, and necessary social services.

Primary Health Care is a whole of society approach to health and wellbeing centered on the needs and preferences of individuals, families, and communities. It  addressee the broader determinants of health and focuses on the comprehensive and interrelated aspects of physical, mental and social health and wellbeing.

Primary Health Care is well-positioned respond to rapid economic, technological, and demographic changes, all of which impact health and wellbeing. A recent analysis found that approximately half of the gains in reducing child mortality from 1990 to 2010 were due to factors outside the health sector (such as, water and sanitation, education, economic growth).  

In primary health care, the approach draws in a wide range of stakeholders to examine and change policies to address the social, economic, environmental, and commercial determinants of health and wellbeing. Treating people and communities as key actors in the production of their own health and wellbeing is critical for understanding and responding to the complexities of our changing world.

Primary Health Care has been proven to be a highly effective and efficient way to address the main causes and risks of poor health and wellbeing today, as well as handling the emerging challenges that threaten health and wellbeing tomorrow. It has also been shown to be a good value investment, as there is evidence that quality primary health care reduces total health care costs and improves efficiency by reducing hospital admissions. Addressing increasingly complex health needs calls for a multisectoral approach that integrates health-promoting and prevention policies, solutions that are responsive to communication, and health services that includes the key elements needed to improve such as epidemics and antimicrobial resistance, through such measures as community engagement and education, rational prescribing, and a core set of essential public health functions, including surveillance. Strengthening systems at the community and peripheral health facility level contributes to building resilience, which is critical for withstanding shocks to the health system. Stronger primary health care is essential to achieving the health  related Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs) and universal health coverage. It will contribute to the attainment of other goals beyond the health goal (GDG3), including those on poverty, hunger, education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, work and economic growth, reducing inequality and climate action. PHC as a component of health systems must develop in ways, which are financially sustainable, supported by political leaders, and supported by the population served. PHC policy must be integrated with other policy domains, and play it’s part in the pursuit of wider social, economic, environment and development policy.

 

 

·         PHC is different in each community depending upon:

·         Needs of the residents;

·         Availability of health care providers;

·         The communities geographic; &

·         Proximity to other health care services in the area.

·         To maintain a good relationship with your primary health care provider:

·         Keep medical history information and make it available to your primary Health Care provider.

·         Feel confident sharing sensitive information with your primary health care provider, as they are not allowed to share it without your permission.