Primary health

care
YEAR 1 BLOCK 1
Objectives
By the end of the lesson students
should be able to :
1.Define primary health care
2.State the elements of primary
health care
3.Describe the principles of primary
health care
Definitions
•A practical approach towards
essential health care universally to
individuals and families in an
acceptable and affordable way with
full participation of the community.
Origins of primary health care
•Idea was born out of the conference
held in Alma Ata which was attended by
158 countries in 1978.
•The goal set was “ health for all by
2000”
•The goal did not apply to the total
eradication of disease, but the focus was
for all the people to have access to
health services to better lives and
promote maximum health.
•Encourage changes in the health
policy of the request of the
community.
•Values health promotion and
prevention of disease as apposed to
the curative approach.
Aims of PHC
•To bring health care as close as
possible to where the people live
and work.
•To address the main health
problems in the community by
providing promotive , preventive ,
curative and rehabilitation services
accordingly.
Continued.

•To reduce the health gap and care

delivery between the rich and the
poor , the disadvantaged such as
the disabled women and children.
Elements of PHC
1. Health education/ promotion
about existing health problems and
how to prevent and control them.
2. Treatment of communicable
diseases
3. Adequate supply of safe water
and basic sanitation.
4. Promotion of food supply and
proper nutrition
5.Immunisation against major
infections disease ( mainly to
reduce child mortality and
morbidity)
6.Maternal and child health (MCH)
including family planning.
7.Provision of essential drugs
8.Appropriate treatment of common
disease , minor ailments and
injuries.
•9. Availability, accessibility and
affordability of health services.
•10. Promotion of mental health
and rehabilitation.
•11. Prevention and control of
locally endemic diseases.
•12. Provisions of dental health
Principles of primary health
Care
1. Community participation
•It refers to the individual or
community ‘s involvement in
choosing priorities and solutions to
their own health problems as well
as their contribution to the
resources needed for the health
service.
2. Multi-sectoral approach
•It involves other government
ministries and non governmental
organisations in improving the
health of the community.
•It requires consulting and working
together with other sectors such as
agriculture , education and ministry
of water and natural resources.
Continued.

•Also involves inter -sectoral

collaboration within the ministry of
health and education.
3. Appropriate technology
•This is a way of doing things using locally
available resources/ material and skills
at a low cost but effectively and
sustainable.
•Characteristic of appropriate
technology.
Acceptable Accessible
Effective Efficient
Affordable Sustainable.
4.Equitable distribution of
resources

•Equal access and utilisation of

health care services to all individuals
regardless of socioeconomic status
according to each individual’s needs.
•Isolated people in rural areas must
not be ignored .
5.Preventive / promotive
approach
•A focus on promotive / preventive
activities – immunisations , growth
monitoring , screenings and health
education to prevent disease.
6. Effective referral system
•Confident and experienced staff to
assess and screen the patients.
•Available and efficient transport
system.
•Available and efficient diagnostic
service e.g laboratory , x-rays
•Available and efficient
communication system
•Efficient health information system
7. Decentralisation
•Transfer of planning , decision
making and management functions
from central government and its
agencies, to field organisations ,
subordinates units of government ,
semi-autonomous organisations etc
•Decisions must be made on the
ground where the problems are.
The end..