Importance of Primary Health Care

Different countries have used different kinds of health programs to improve the health condition of their citizens. But, they are not successful to bring a significant change in the health status of people. Especially, the third world countries are the places of experiment of new methods and techniques of health care. But people of some countries are facing the maximum health problems. They are the victims of common diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, measles, etc. It is proved that we should emphasize on primary health care. 90% of population of poor countries are illiterate and living in remote and village areas. They don’t even have basic knowledge of health care. They are not interested or cannot afford for preventive aspect of health. As a result, they have to suffer a lot or sometimes lose their life untimely even by the effects of minor diseases. Such facts prove the importance of primary health care. In order to improve the health condition of common people of developing countries, we should make them aware about their personal hygiene, community health and immunization programmes that are launched by the government for the targeted group. In the same way, lack of nutritious food, education, and inadequate health services provided by the state are major causes of poor health condition of people in backward countries.

The importance of Primary Health Care

.        Primary health care helps in controlling most of the preventable diseases which

         Are main causes of low status of people.

.        Primary health care promotes active participation of people in caring their health

         in the right way.

.        Primary health care gives emphasis on decentralization approach. As a result,

         We can make the maximum participation of local people in health programs. It

         helps to improve the health condition of the community.

.        Primary health care aims to provide minimum and basic health services to all the

         people living even in rural and remote areas. All the people living in the corner

         of the earth can get such health services facilities.

.        Primary health care deals not only with the preventive and curative health, but

         also with the promotive and rehabilitative health of individuals, families, and

         communities. In such a way, it plays a role of milestone in improvement of

         overall health status of the nation.

Elements of Primary Health Care

Different countries, organizations and communities have contributed to various ways to the services and facilities for primary health care. In spite of their various contributions, the international conference at Alma-Ata has outlined the following necessary aspects of primary health care:

a. Supply of Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation

There is deep relation between the supply of water and sanitation. If there is storage of water, it naturally affects the sanitary condition. Due to the lack of safe water and cleanliness, disease like diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid, worms, dysentery are likely to occur. Unless we prevent ourselves from such diseases, we cannon keep our health in a good condition. Therefore, the supply of safe drinking water is necessary. It is equally important to pay attention to hygiene.

b. Nutrition

A nutritious diet is necessary for living a healthy life. It is possible when we have sufficient supply of food and management of good nutrition. In the absence of a balanced diet, we may suffer from malnutrition and different health problems may appear. So, the supply of food and management of proper nutrition is taken as the second major aspect of primary health care.

c. Appropriate Treatment of Common Diseases and Injuries

Diseases such as diarrhoea, common cold, worms, fever, headache, stomach-ache, etc. adversely affect our health. Even the minor injuries, if not treated in time, can make us suffer much. If such health problems are treated in time, we can achieve a better health. So, the primary health care has given emphasis on the treatment of common diseases and minor injuries.

d. Management of Essential Medicine/Drugs

Primary Health Care has given emphasis on the management of necessary medicine. In rural areas, the health centres provide  medicines for diarrhoea, fever, pain, etc. Medicine is also provided for minor injuries and wounds.

When primary health care is considered in its essence, it makes us realize that one should take care of one’s health oneself. Health education is considered as a process and medium of taking care of themselves. To make primary health care a successful program, participation of the community is extremely needed. With the help of our minimum efforts, we can protect ourselves from more than 90 percent diseases prevailing in our surroundings. For this, there is a need of active participation of individuals, the community and the nation.

e. Protection from Local Diseases

Diseases may be found appearing differently according to the variations of the places. Thus, the first necessity arises in the treatment of diseases which especially appear in definite places.

f. Family Planning and Maternal and Child Health Care

Family planning is necessary to live a happy life. In family planning, the size family and education for them is managed according to the sources of family income. Along with the family planning, maternal and child health care should also be taken into consideration. Both child death rate and maternity death rate are high in Nepal. Therefore, the importance of the maternity and child care has increased more in Nepal.

g. Immunization against Major Communicable Diseases

Immunization is a preventive measure given against the diseases. If we are immunized, we become immune to diseases. we can immunize ourselves from the diseases such as tuberculosis, tetanus, whooping cough, measles, poliomyelitis, etc. The government Nepal has made these injections freely available to all the people in the country.

h. Health Education

Due to the lack of health education, it is hard to enjoy a normal health condition. Health education teaches us about the problems of health, the diseases and their causes. It also teaches us how those diseases can be prevented. That is why, health education is considered as one of the main aspects of primary health care.