Page 239 - Health, Population and Environment Education 9

supporting people to manage their health issues in the community. It is the cornerstone
underpinning population health outcomes and key to ensuring. We have high quality
sustainable health system into the future. The importance of primary health care is
mentioned in the following points.
1. Primary health care provides essential health services free of cost in the rural areas
through primary health centres, health posts and sub-health posts.

2. It provides health services of minor injuries such as cut, sprain, burn, wound, etc. at
local level.

3. It provides health services by using all possible local resources and technologies.
4. It provides medical treatment of simple diseases and minor injuries to the people
having low income in rural area.

5. Primary health care conducts vaccination programs at local level.
6. It generates awareness to prevent and control communicable diseases.
7. It conducts programmes to increase public participation.

8. PHC helps control the spread of endemic and contagious diseases in locality in their
primary stage.

9. PHC generates awareness of safe and pure drinking water in the locality.
10. PHC provides health services by trained health assistant, (HA), community medical
assistants, nurses, midwives, etc. at local level.

11. PHC provides antenatal care (ANC) and post natal care (PNC) through trained
medical personnel .

12. PHC helps change the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAAP) of the people
towards health care services and diseases.
13. PHC helps generate concept knowledge, awareness, preparedness and healthy
behaviours to achieve good health.
14. PHC helps integrate various programs related to health in the community.

10.4 Elements of Primary Health Care

The major elements of primary health care are as follows:

i. Safe drinking water and basic sanitation
ii. Provision of proper nutrition.
iii. Proper treatment of minor injuries
iv. Provision of essential drugs.

v. Maternal and child health care services and family planning.

GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 239