Page 237 - Health, Population and Environment Education 9

2. Community participation
Community participation is essential in order to make the fullest use of local, national and
other available resources. Community participation is considered sustainable due to its
grassroots nature and emphasis on self sufficiency.

3. Health workforce development
Comprehensive health care relies on adequate number and distribution of trained
physicians, nurses, allied health professions, community health workers and others
working as a health team and supported at the local and referral levels.

4. Use of appropriate technology
Medical technology should be provided that is accessible, affordable, feasible and
culturally acceptable to the community. Examples of appropriate technology include
refrigerators for vaccine cold storage.

5. Multi sectional approach

It has been recognized that health cannot be improved by intervention within just the
formal health sector, other sectors are equally important in promoting the health and
self reliance of communities. These sectors include agriculture (e.g. food security),
education communication (e. g. concerning prevailing health problems and the methods
of preventing and controlling them), housing, public works (e.g. ensuring an adequate
supply of safe water and basic sanitation, rural development, industries, and community
organization.
In short, Primary Health Care (PHC) is the heart and soul of medicine. It is the foundation
of every health care system: the first contact and ongoing link between people and their
health providers. Primary Health Care is how individuals and families connect with the
health care system throughout their lives. Every person has right to get primary health
care services and they should be accessible to every part of the country as it is a basic
health service. Similarly, PHC should be accessible to each and every person at affordable
cost.

10.2 Characteristics of Primary Health Care

The major characteristics of primary health care are as follows:
i. Essential health care service
ii. Acceptable

iii. Accessible
iv. Broad public participation
v. Affordable

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