HEALTH
-a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being
-not necessarily the absence of disease or infirmity
-successful defense of the host against forces tending to disturb body equilibrium
-many productive and useful members of the society have disease or infirmity
PUBLIC HEALTH
-art and science of preventing disease
-the organized and systematized approach to the provision of health services
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE
-is 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
-at a cost, the community and country can afford to maintain at every stage of their development in the spirit of self-reliance and self-determination
-is an approach to health development
-carried out through a set of activities
-ultimate aim is the continuous improvement and maintenance of health status of the community
-envisages that the community will define its own health problems and needs and devise and carry out programs or activities to solve them.
-in partnership with government and private sector.
WHAT MUST PHC PROVIDE?
-Essential health care which is:
1. community-based
2. accessible
3. acceptable
4. sustainable at a cost which the community and the government can afford
5. participatory with the overall socio-economic development
WHY PHC?
- Despite the fielding of midwives to serve the health needs of remote rural areas, 33% of rural population is still UNDERSERVED and UNSERVED.
- Situation is aggravated by:
1. Poverty
2. Increasing population
3. Uncertain supply and rising costs of fuel
4. Increasing prices of basic commodities
5. Crowded and inadequate shelter
6. Limited and unequally distributed health resources
7. High cost of medical care and lack of basic health knowledge.
ELEMENTS of PHC
E- Education
L- Local/endemic disease control