Primary Health Networks Essay
Introduction
The landscape of health difficulties is endlessly changing in a manner which was partly projected and at a rate that was exclusively unpredicted. Indeed, ageing and the outcomes of poorly managed development and globalization have enhanced the global spread of infectious illnesses and raised the affliction of lasting and non-communicable ailments. Health systems are therefore not isolated from the rapid pace of revolution and renovation which is an indispensable part of modern globalization. In response to the challenge of a changing world, there is an establishment of Primary Health Network and Local Health District to cater for health needs (Osborn et al. 2015). Primary Health Network target to improve harmonization of care to guarantee that patients obtain veracious attention in the right place and at the accurate time. PHN is essential health care grounded on useful, systematically sound and publically conventional tactics and technology that are generally available to persons and relatives in the community via involvement at a cost affordable to them (Peck ham et al., 2015). On the other hand, Local Health District refers to a government organization which is on the front line of public health. Indeed, LHD, emanate from expectations by individuals that government ought to put into place a selection of general strategies to deal with health issues such as those posed by urbanization, climate change, gender refinement, and social stratification. Primary Health Networks Essay.
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Background
Health systems are often thought of consisting of health services such as health promotion and acute care. However, the extent of success of this organization depends heavily on how well they are supported and organized. Every organization promoting primary health care requires a well –organized and resourced corporate support functions to ensure adequate services to the community. Most of the significant barrier to facilitate sustainable fundamental healthcare innovation and effectiveness are to be found in the corporate domain. Also, there is a need to recognize the right of indigenous people to be active participants in developing and determining health programs. Denial of control in an individual’s life and stress produced could act as a critical cause of ill-health. Indeed, they ought to participate in delivering health services through their institutions when necessary (Pulvirenti, McMillan & Lawn, 2014). To achieve person-centred care, health needs of society require a resolution at an original level, and primary health care experts together with the communal necessitate to support as they build expertise and awareness needed to address local health needs.
Compare and contrast different functions of PHNs and LHDs
PHNs are independent organizations with sections carefully allied with those of public and territory local hospital networks (LHN). Additionally, they have skill founded boards that are learnt by medical bodies and public advisory commissions. Moreover, PHNs are recognized to mitigate the
Health care professions need to continuously utilize the strategies and principles of primary health care. Health care must constantly evolve and meet the growing demands of the population for quality health services. There are many issues, challenges and dilemmas that health professionals and community have to face in the area of health care and medicine. Primary Health Networks Essay. This involves the growing population, poverty, rise of chronic diseases, high cost of medical or health care and poor access and availability for life saving medical services. In these events the primary health care initiatives and concepts should bet taken into consideration particularly by the nursing profession. Primary Health Care or PHC is an alternative or an effort to shift services from hospital-based curative approach to a more of home or community-based preventive approach. It has been 30 years since the goals of primary health care were first highlighted on the Declaration of Alma-Ata during the International Conference on Primary Health Care, Alma-Ata, USSR in the year 1978.
One of the main objectives of primary health care is to make health services accessible and available to all. The World Health Organization supported the agenda believing that its values, principles and approaches are relevant to the needs of time. They believed that primary health care will be successful to fight the “three ills” of life in the 21st century including globalization of unhealthy lifestyles, rapid urbanization and the aging of populations. It is meant to revolutionized the health services and promote equity and better health services.
Understanding Health and Wellness
In order to understand health and wellness one must define what health is and the determinants of health.” Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity…” (Declaration I, Declaration Of Alma-Ata, 1978) Wellness similarly on the other hand means “a healthy state of wellbeing free from diseases”.
According to the World Health Organization the following are the identified examples of determinants of health. First is the income and social status, which shows that higher income and social status people have better health condition than the poor. Education shows that low education levels contributed to poor health, stress and lower self-confidence. Physical environment including safe water and clean air, healthy workplaces, safe houses, communities and roads that influences one’s health. Employment and working conditions that showed people in employment are healthier, particularly those who have control over their working conditions. Social support networks like support from families, friends and communities are also linked to better health. Cultures are customs and traditions, and the beliefs of the family and community that all affect health. Primary Health Networks Essay.Genetics that shows how inheritance play a part in determining lifespan, healthiness and the likelihood of developing certain illnesses. Personal behavior and coping skills like balanced eating, keeping active, smoking, drinking, and dealing with life’s stressors and challenges. Health services or the access and use of services that prevent and treat disease influences health and lastly, Gender since men and women suffer from different types of diseases at different ages. (WHO, 2009)
Children’s Health Fair: Primary Health Care and Partnerships
In a document from Journal Of Nursing Education with the title: Primary Health Care And Partnerships: Collaboration Of A Community Agency, Health Department, And University Nursing Program featured the capacity of children’s heath fair to be utilized to promote primary health care practices and services which will greatly benefit the three major organization that will partner in the project.
The project aims to resolve the community health care dilemmas and nursing education challenges. The said health fair partnership involved planning, implementation and evaluation process that was guided and motivated by the framework, philosophy and five principles of PHC. The five principles of the PHC include the focus on health promotion, illness and disability prevention, maximum community participation, accessibility to health and health services, interdisciplinary and intersectoral collaboration, and lastly the use of appropriate technologies like resources and strategies.
It integrated a number of teaching-learning strategies and approaches to help the nursing students to acquire the PHC skills needed to work effectively in a partnership and implement specific nursing activities. The nursing students were given the responsibility to acquire knowledge about the growth and development of a growing child. They also learn community involvement from the health fair strategy by initiating discussion and communication with people. Primary Health Networks Essay.
Interdisciplinary and Intersectoral Collaboration
Effective collaboration of partners from various disciplines and sectors of society can lead to essential, practical and scientifically sound, accessible, appropriately delivered, coordinated, and affordable health care (WHO, 1978).
One of the principles or concepts where the primary health care operates is the concept of interdisciplinary and intersectroal collaboration. In the article given it emphasized the need for partnership and collaborations of different organizations or groups that will play and ensure success of the health fair. It would not be all possible if only the nursing organization or medical profession will implement and organize PHC. They need the support of various organizations. Health and wellness will be achieved when there is collaborative relationship or joint effort for the realization of the goal. This involves the government, medical institutions and professionals, WHO, UNICEF, primary health organizations, nongovernmental agencies, funding agencies and even volunteer community health workers.
Relationship of Primary Health Care Concept to Health and Wellness
From observation maintaining health and wellness nowadays would seem to become a privilege or reserved only for those who can afford. The impoverished and marginalized groups are most of the time neglected and left to suffer from lack of health services. The demand for quality health services increases as different forms of illnesses arise. It would be a serious problem for a nation if many of its citizens continue to experience health deterioration. With all the threats to human health, the primary health care initiatives and the role of nurses should work together. Primary Health Networks Essay. Interdisciplinary and intersectional collaboration was given focus because there is a great need for collaboration from different sectors of the society to achieve the goals of primary health care. In Evolving Models of PHC Nursing Practice, one example given is the presence of a Rural Nurse Specialist that acknowledges the role of collaboration and effective healthcare intervention to safeguard the health and wellness of the people or community she is committed to serve
Conclusion
It was stressed earlier that” Primary health care is essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology made universally accessible…”( Declaration VI, Declaration Of Alma-Ata, 1978)
Success in any undertakings like that of the primary health care initiatives will not be successful without effective collaboration. The nursing profession remains one of the most challenging and demanding profession as they have to be available and well prepared to serve the people. Primary heath care targets mainly those groups that cannot afford access to health services like the ethnic or minority groups in remote places. The goal is for the community to support health reform programs and for the health workers to see significant improvement in the lives of the people through the decline of mortality rates, preservation and prolonging of lives, restoration of one’s health and effective population-based disease prevention.
Key facts
- Primary health care can cover the majority of a person’s health needs throughout their life including prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care.
- At least half of the world’s people still lack full coverage of essential health services.
- A fit-for-purpose workforce is essential to deliver primary health care, yet the world has an estimated shortfall of 18 million health workers. Primary Health Networks Essay.
- Of the 30 countries for which data are available, only 8 spend at least US$ 40 per person on primary health care per year.
What is primary health care?
Primary health care is a whole-of-society approach to health and well-being centred on the needs and preferences of individuals, families and communities. It addresses the broader determinants of health and focuses on the comprehensive and interrelated aspects of physical, mental and social health and wellbeing.
It provides whole-person care for health needs throughout the lifespan, not just for a set of specific diseases. Primary health care ensures people receive comprehensive care – ranging from promotion and prevention to treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care – as close as feasible to people’s everyday environment.
Primary health care is rooted in a commitment to social justice and equity and in the recognition of the fundamental right to the highest attainable standard of health, as echoed in Article 25 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and wellbeing of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services […]”.
The concept of primary health care has been repeatedly reinterpreted and redefined. In some contexts, it has referred to the provision of ambulatory or first-level of personal health care services. In other contexts, primary health care has been understood as a set of priority health interventions for low-income populations (also called selective primary health care). Primary Health Networks Essay. Others have understood primary health care as an essential component of human development, focusing on the economic, social and political aspects.
WHO has developed a cohesive definition based on three components:
- meeting people’s health needs through comprehensive promotive, protective, preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care throughout the life course, strategically prioritizing key health care services aimed at individuals and families through primary care and the population through public health functions as the central elements of integrated health services;
- systematically addressing the broader determinants of health (including social, economic, environmental, as well as people’s characteristics and behaviours) through evidence-informed public policies and actions across all sectors; and
- empowering individuals, families, and communities to optimize their health, as advocates for policies that promote and protect health and well-being, as co-developers of health and social services, and as self-carers and care-givers to others.
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Why is primary health care important?
Renewing primary health care and placing it at the centre of efforts to improve health and wellbeing are critical for three reasons:
- Primary health care is well-positioned to respond to rapid economic, technological, and demographic changes, all of which impact health and well-being. A recent analysis found that approximately half of the gains in reducing child mortality from 1990 to 2010 were due to factors outside the health sector (such as, water and sanitation, education, economic growth). A primary health care approach draws in a wide range of stakeholders to examine and change policies to address the social, economic, environmental and commercial determinants of health and well-being. Treating people and communities as key actors in the production of their own health and well-being is critical for understanding and responding to the complexities of our changing world.
- Primary health care has been proven to be a highly effective and efficient way to address the main causes and risks of poor health and well-being today, as well as handling the emerging challenges that threaten health and well-being tomorrow. Primary Health Networks Essay. It has also been shown to be a good value investment, as there is evidence that quality primary health care reduces total healthcare costs and improves efficiency by reducing hospital admissions. Addressing increasingly complex health needs calls for a multisectoral approach that integrates health-promoting and preventive policies, solutions that are responsive to communities, and health services that are people-centred. Primary health care also includes the key elements needed to improve health security and prevent health threats such as epidemics and antimicrobial resistance, through such measures as community engagement and education, rational prescribing, and a core set of essential public health functions, including surveillance. Strengthening systems at the community and peripheral health facility level contributes to building resilience, which is critical for withstanding shocks to the health system.
- Stronger primary health care is essential to achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and universal health coverage. It will contribute to the attainment of other goals beyond the health goal (SDG3), including those on poverty, hunger, education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, work and economic growth, reducing inequality and climate action. Primary Health Networks Essay.
WHO response
WHO recognizes the central role of primary health care for achieving health and well-being for all, at all ages. WHO works with countries to:
- Identify priority areas for improving health and context-specific approaches which draw on the technical expertise across the WHO.
- Support countries to develop inclusive policies, in country leadership and health systems based on primary health care which promote health equity and works towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and universal health coverage.
- Address the wider inequity and social determinants of health through multisectoral action. Primary Health Networks Essay.
