Some Principles Regarding Primary Health Care Somalia Inhabitants May Find Useful

By Joshua Bennett


Abbreviated as PHC, primary health care is more than just finding a cure to a disease. It brings together various sectors in the society with an aim of providing what is commonly termed universal healthcare. The idea is to integrate both curative and preventive measures in alleviating disease, not just in a single person but in the society as a whole. There are a number of essentials on primary health care Somalia residents may find worth knowing as they strive to benefit from better service provision.

Equitable distribution of resources is one of the key features of PHC. People all over the world differ in terms of race, sex, gender, geographical area and economic status. None of this should form a basis for providing services to individuals. Instead, people should be treated equally, based on the resources available in a country.

PHC can only work efficiently if the community actively participates in it. Participation is usually in the form of attending health education sessions and putting into practice what is learned from the sessions. Education opportunities can be provided by local service providers. The local healthcare system can also collaborate with outside professionals to share knowledge in the community. One of the essential issues emphasized in such forums include keeping the environment clean. This means disposing of waste matter in appropriate places and clearing bushes around places where people live.

Developing the health workforce is another way in which healthcare can be made universal. Healthcare workers including nurses, doctors, laboratory technicians, physiotherapists, among others should be available in within a couple of kilometers of every village. This is to ensure that patients receive attention as soon as they need it. The concerned stakeholders (government and non-governmental organizations), therefore, need to train and employ more healthcare workers in a bid to achieve this.

In spite of advances in technology in science today, efficient health care provision may not be possible for some of these communities. This is mainly due to the absence of the necessary infrastructure. It should, however, be noted that for technology to be successful in a given healthcare setting, it needs to be fair in pricing for patients. The staff should also be able to handle the equipment with ease. In addition, most machines require electricity, which may not be available in remote villages.

Evidently, success in universal health care is dependent on multiple sectors and not just the healthcare sector. Some of these sectors include engineering, agriculture, societal organizations and the education sector. Agriculture, for instance, is crucial in providing food security for the community. The engineering technical unit serves to provide good roads and electricity where it is needed.

An important concept that has been developed over the past years is what is referred to as selective primary health care. In selective PHC, any goal that is set needs to be specific and something that can be measured. Some of the underlying healthcare issues addressed in selective PHC include family planning, growth monitoring, breastfeeding and immunization.

In a nutshell, achieving universal health care calls for commitment, positivity and patience among other attributes. It goes beyond just providing cure to diseases in hospitals. PHC involves other sectors in a bid to ensure that all members of the society are free of disease. Primary healthcare is a concept that should, therefore, be fully embraced.




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