strategy
Establishing primary health care
Synonyms:
Maintaining public healthSustaining primary health
Maintaining basic health
Building basic health infrastructure systems
Strengthening primary health care systems to meet basic health needs
Providing primary health care
Improving primary health care
Developing basic health care
Acquiring basic health care
Ensuring access to basic health care
Description:
The need is for an effective primary health care and maternal health care system accessible to all. The necessary education, curative services and referrals must be provided in order to maintain good health in a target population. Primary health care systems that are practical, community-based, scientifically sound, socially acceptable and appropriate to needs and meet basic health needs of clean water, safe food and sanitation should be developed and strengthened.
Context:
It is assumed that health care includes sanitation, nutrition and care of the environment in which people live. Thus, primary health care often involves volunteer community health workers as well as health professionals.
This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities. Agenda 21 recommends promotion of primary health and environmental care at the local level, including training for local communities in appropriate water management and sanitation techniques and primary health care.
Implementation:
The conference "Health for All by the Year 2000", held by WHO and UNICEF at Alma-Ata in 1978, launched today's primary health care movement.
Claim:
Viewing specific health problems in their social context allows more accurate diagnosis and the likelihood of more effective treatment, especially when the community at large is involved in developing and maintaining the programme.
Counter Claim:
The primary health approach to health care requires extensive involvement by the bureaucracies funding it in the lives and issues of small, local neighbourhoods and communities.
Broader:
Improving accessStrengthening systemsSafeguarding public healthEnsuring a healthy environmentBuilding a sustainable society Narrower:
Expanding basic medical careInstalling local health servicesImproving sanitation for the poorExtending preventive health servicesIntensifying disease prevention programmeEnsuring access to adequate water servicesStrengthening primary health care systems to control communicable diseases Constrains:
Abstaining from medical care Facilitates:
Preventing avoidable blindnessTeaching basic health practicesEnabling poor to achieve sustainable livelihood Facilitated by:
Protecting medicinal plantsManaging community healthReducing government expenditure on tertiary health facilitiesImproving local managerial skills to strengthen the basic health system Problems:
Fragility of maintaining basic healthIgnorance of health and hygiene
Inadequate primary health care
Infectious drinking water
Organizations:
World Health Organization PATH United Nations Children's Fund References:
Fond, Anna La: Sustaining Primary Health CareMacDonald, John J: Primary Health Care: medicine in its place Subjects:
Amenities → Living conditionsAmenities → Maintenance
Commerce → Purchasing, supplying
→ Systems
Development → Development
Development → Reform
Government → Public
Health Care → Care
Health Care → Health
Industry → Construction
Industry → Utilities
Type Classification:
C: Cross-sectoral strategies Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
