ELEMENTS OF P H C
1. Education on health problems and how to prevent and control them
Public education is the first, and one of the most essential, components of primary health care. By educating the public on the prevention and control of health problems, and encouraging participation, the World Health Organization works to keep disease from spreading on a personal level.
2. Locally Endemic Diseases Control
Prevention and control of local diseases is critical to promoting primary health care in a population. Many diseases vary based on location. Taking these diseases into account and initiating measures to prevent them are key factors in efforts to reduce infection rates.
3. EPI (Immunization against major infectious diseases)
By administering global immunizations, WHO works to wipe out major infectious diseases, greatly improving overall health globally
4. Maternal and child healthcare, including family planning
Ensuring comprehensive & adequate health care to children & mothers, sometimes, care for them involves adequate counseling on family planning
5. Essential drugs provision
By providing essential drugs to those who need them, such as antibiotics to those with infections, caregivers can help prevent disease from growing. This makes the community safer, as there is less chance for diseases to be passed along
6. Development of effective food supply and Proper Nutrition
Nutrition is another essential component of health care. WHO works to prevent malnutrition and starvation and to prevent many diseases and problems
7. Appropriate Treatment of common diseases and injuries
By treating disease and injury right away, caregivers can help avoid complications and the expense of later, more extensive, medical treatment.
8. Safe water supply and basic sanitation
A supply of clean, safe drinking water and basic sanitation measures regarding trash, sewage and water cleanliness can significantly improve the health of a population, reducing and even eliminating many preventable diseases
For Learning - Acronym for Elements of PHC
E - Education on Health Problems
L - Locally Endemic Diseases Control
E – EPI (Immunization against Major Infectious Diseases)
M - Maternal and Child Healthcare, Including Family Planning
E - Essential Drugs Provision
N – Nutrition
T - Treatment of Common Diseases and Injuries
S - Safe Water Supply and Basic Sanitation
Significance of Primary Health Care
1. It produces better health for a population at a lower cost.
2. It is not necessarily synonymous with managed care (which restricts medical choice in terms of investigation, referral and treatment).
3. It is front-line and ongoing care that is comprehensive and coordinated.
4. It enhances patient satisfaction
5. It reduces health-care costs.
Ideal Primary Health Care Facility
An accessible, an authentic, standardized, and low cost health care facility that effectively diagnoses and treats majority of case of illnesses occurring in a household.
Staff of an Ideal Primary Health Care Facility
An Ideal Health Care facility in our setup should have following staff:
• A Family Medicine qualified doctor to head the setup.
• A female doctor.
• A Maternity Trained Lady Health Visitor.
• A Lab technician.
• A Medical Assistant.
• Administrative staff including watchman and sweeper.
Equipment of an Ideal Primary Health Care Facility
• Basic diagnostic equipment of a General Practitioner's Office.
• Equipment for minor surgical procedures.
• Equipment for conducting normal delivery cases.
• Lab Equipment for carrying out certain basic lab investigations.
• Ultrasonography machine.
• Small X Ray machine.
• Pulse Oxy meter
• ECG Machine
• Equipment and furniture to accommodate 5-10 indoor cases.
Functional Capabilities of an Ideal Primary Health Care Facility
• It should be able to diagnose majority of common household illnesses.
• It should be able to effectively treat majority of common household illnesses without resorting to help from any advanced facility.
• It should be able to cater for maternity care of the dependent population.
• It should be able to carry out the recommended vaccination program for the population.
• It should be able to provide necessary health education to the dependent population.
0 Comments