Introduction to Public Health

Module # 2
Lecture # 2
Concept of Public health and Primary health care.
DR. SHAIKH ABDUS SALAM
Dept. of Public Health
North south University
 OBJECTIVES OF THE LECTURE

By the end of this lecture you will be able to:

o Conceptualize
• Public health
• Objectives of Public Health.
• Health care & Primary health care.
• Elements and importance of Primary Health care.

Dr. Shaikh Abdus Salam 1

 Concept of Public Health:
Definition: according to Winslow in 1920 and adapted by the WHO
Expert committee on public health----- “Public health is the science
and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health
and efficiency through organized community effort (i) for the
sanitation of the environment; the control of communicable
infections; the education of the individuals in the principles of
hygiene; the organization of medical and nursing services for the
early diagnosis and preventive treatment of diseases (ii); and the
development of social machinery which will ensure to every
individual in the community a standard of living adequate for the
maintenance of health; so organizing the benefits as to enable
every citizen to realize his birth right of health and longevity (iii).”

Dr.Shaikh Abdus Salam

Rajshahi Medicakl College

Dr. Shaikh Abdus Salam

Rajshahi Medical College

Dr. Shaikh Abdus Salam

Rajshahi Medical University,
Bangladesh

Dr. Shaikh Abdus Salam

 Public Health

Dr. Shaikh Abdus Salam

 Public health

Dr. Shaikh Abdus Salam

 Public Health

• Objectives:
a. Prevention of diseases and prolongation of life
b. Promotion of health and efficiency
c. Elevation of the standard of living, adequate for
health maintenance
d. Provision of the right to health and longevity
• Areas of activity:
- Environmental sanitation
- Health education
- Communicable disease control
Dr.Shaikh Abdus Salam
 Health Care
• “ multitude of services rendered to individuals, families and
communities by the agents of the health services or professions,
for the purpose of promoting, maintaining, monitoring or restoring
health”
The care:
A. Preventive care
B. Promotive care
C. Curative care
D. Palliative care
E. Rehabilitative care etc.
Dr.Shaikh Abdus Salam
Dr. Shaikh Abdus Salam
 “Health for All” by2000AD
**In the year 1977, WHO declared “ the attainment of all
citizens of the world, by the year 2000, of a level of health
that will permit them to lead a socially and economically
productive life”. Health begins at home, in schools and
factories where people live, learn and toil.
**In the year 1978,it was at alma Ata that Primary health
care was identified as the key to attaining the social target
of Health for All.

Dr. Shaikh Abdus Salam

 Primary Health Care
• In Alma-Atta declaration,1978:
• “ Essential health care based on practical, scientifically
sound and socially acceptable methods and technology
made universally accessible to individuals and families
in the community through their full participation and at a
cost that the community and the country can afford to
maintain at every stage of their development in the spirit
of self determination.”

Dr.Shaikh Abdus Salam

 Components of Primary Health care
• There were 8 components/ elements:
• 1.Education about prevailing health problems and methods of preventing and
controlling them.
• 2. Promotion of food supply and proper nutrition.
• 3. An adequate supply of safe water and basic sanitation.
• 4. Maternal and child care, including family planning.
• 5. Immunization against infectious diseases
• 6. Prevention and control of endemic diseases
• 7. Appropriate treatment of common diseases and injuries.
• 8.Provision of essential drugs.

Dr.Shaikh Abdus Salam

Primary Health Care USA

Dr. Shaikh Abdus Salam

Primary Health Care USA

Dr. Shaikh Abdus Salam

Primary Health Care USA

Dr. Shaikh Abdus Salam

 Primaryn Health care

Dr. Shaikh Abdus Salam

Primary Health Care Bangladesh

Dr. Shaikh Abdus Salam

Primary Health Care Bangladesh

Dr. Shaikh Abdus Salam

 Primary health care

Dr. Shaikh Abdus Salam

 Primary health Care

Dr. Shaikh Abdus Salam

 Principles of Health Care
• 1. Appropriateness
• 2.Adequacy
• 3.Availablity
• 4.Accessibility
• 5.Affordablity
• 6.Comprehensiveness:
• 7.Feasiblity
Dr.Shaikh Abdus Salam
 Levels of health Care
I. Primary level of health care: Village, Union Parishad,
Upozilla ( Sub-district)
II. Secondary level of health care: District Hospital
III. Tertiary level of health care: Division, Capital city;
Medical College Hospitals etc.
IV. Special health care : Emergency health care, Epidemic,
pandemic, refugee camp etc.

Dr.Shaikh Abdus Salam

 Health Care Centre

Dr. Shaikh Abdus Salam

Dr. Shaikh Abdus Salam