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Primary Health Care

Background
The idea of Primary Health Care comes from ancient China where in the older times there was a community of voluntary health workers known as Dr. Barefooted (people not wearing shoes) who worked in the community to treat various health problems. 
They did not have any definite method or techniques to cure the diseases but they had certain health remedies traveling through the generations.
With the time, developed world adapted the idea from Dr Barefooted to work for the health problems of the community which later one was re-introduced in the developing countries.

WHO
WHO has defined primary health care as essential health care. Based on methods and techniques which are practical, scientifically acceptable, universally available to all individuals and all families in the community with their full participation and at a cost which a community and a country can provide at al stages of development in a spirit of self reliance and self determination. It must be an integral part as much of the national health system of which it is the foundation, as of the economic and social development of the whole community.

Amongst the major causes of high childhood mortality and of the large number of handicapped children in Pakistan are childhood diseases which respond to the availability of immunization and, or effective prevention or to simple inexpensive but effective technology. Adapting primary health care as a policy can be the most effective and the least costly solution. It must provide screening for and treatment of the common diseases and their systemic prevention by community action. Improvement by the community action, improvement of hygiene and nutrition, vaccination preventive treatments and education of both children and adults. An essential ingredient for success is collaboration between all levels of health professionals and the population.

Essential Components of Primary Health Care Policy
There are eight essential components of primary health care (PHC) policy. These are:
1. Improvement of basic hygiene
Care of stores, disposal of dirty water and garbage.

2. Adequate supply of drinking water
1st of all community level and then into individual homes necessary for improving hygiene and food and for medicine care. Abolishing the need for water storage, which is often dangerous as well as for the hard work of carrying of water.

3. Participation of the population
People of health communities and as community health person or a member of DHA (district health authority) collect loans of premises and equipment, for organization of public transport, for free medical parameters does not matters but on the other hand when same funds are well managed they can be invested in development of improved health care and sanitation for the community (e.g. building, installation of facilities, drugs and vaccines).

4. Health And Hygiene Education
This education should be given at the personal and community levels.

5. Organization of facilities and application of appropriate methods of treatment distribution of health care units setting up of referral centers, and coordination of the or activities.

6. Providing essential medicines

7. Improvement of nutritional status
evaluation of nutrition and nutrition education for the prevention of malnutrition including the early treatment of diarrhea. 

8. Expanded Programme Of Immunization

EXAMPLE:
A campaign of immunization protects against the diseases covered by the campaign but in the absence of health education if the population is not told which illness it is protected against the credit attributed to vaccination is lost or reduced when another disease occurs.

Without the participation of the population if the population plays no financial material part in the programme, it will not succeed.

In the absence of basic hygiene if the basic hygiene of population is not improved other diseases may occur and the effect of the immunization may be reduced.

Without appropriate treatment protocols if the techniques of immunization is unsuitable, if the instrument are contaminated or if the cold chain is interrupted at any stage, the vaccine may be ineffective or may even cause local or general complications, and the programme will be discredited.

If the nutritional state is inadequate immunization will be ineffective.

Without appropriate method of treatment if there is no programme of oral rehydration to accompany the other programmes and the children will still die of diarrhea. In the absence of maternal and child health programme if the child health is badly targeted and if one forgets vulnerable or specially sensitive age groups there will be incorrect vaccine coverage and child mortality will remain high.

Conclusion:
Given the size of the task, it is necessary to:
· Coordinate action of primary health care must be integrated with all other social actions so as to improve general health, technology, finance and administration.
· Improve general health care: if the levels of health in whole population is to be changed one must consider the health of all rather than individuals.
· Research: the results of the work must be evaluated through operational and formative research, which allow future improvements and the introduction of new methods.

Thanks to,
Sadia Saeed
Member e-team 4th year,
emed