Primary Health Care and Health Promotion - Term Paper Example

Running Header: Primary Health Care and Health Promotion Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Code: Date of Submission: Introduction For many years world over, many people have been witnessed to lose their lives or suffering from certain diseases that can be easily avoided within the society. This in many institutions and societies has been blamed on the social frameworks and policies that relate to health care provision to the public. Many of the people in the world suffer and die from simple and minor ailments, not because there is no cure, but because there cannot access health systems and services. Primary health care and health promotion are both important in ensuring that the world society is safe and health (Pullen et al, 2009). With primary health care and health promotion, it’s expected that everybody in the community will be involved in trying to protecting the health of individuals. Diseases such as typhoid, malaria and other health related complications such as obesity are some of the health problems that can easily be avoided under proper health care programs. With the increasing trends of those people who suffer from health related issues and that cannot easily access proper care, there has been numerous efforts in trying to tackle this fundamental social issue according to Chiarella (2008, pp. 231). It’s from this context that this assessment is seeking to dig dipper into the issue of health from the perspective of primary health care and health promotion in the current society. Primary health care The term ‘primary health care’, can be defined from a number of perspectives. However, the definition of primary health care that has been universally recognized is that primary health care is used to refer to the provision of basic health care services for all (World Health Organisation (WHO), 1978, para. 4). Primary health care has come into being as an approach to try and help all receive good health care. Primary health care is used to enhance and to boost the community health care and disperse its operations to various people within their social contexts. However, its emerging that if primary health care is to be possible and an achievable agenda, then there is need to involve the local communities in decision making and that priority be given to the views of the people (Pullen et al 2009). Primary health care history and it first came into perspective during the Alma Ata declaration of 1978. This was the first ever international declaration primary health care to take place. The declaration had recognized that in the society were serious inequalities which had been greatly rooted economically, socially and culturally and that have for many years continued to hinder the provision of health care to all people. The declaration was particularly more conspicuous about social equity, justice, intersectoral collaboration and participation of the community in making important decisions about health care. The Alma Ata was particularly important in suggesting those areas that needed urgent action in order to promote and ensure proper protection of health of mankind (WHO, 1978, para.6). The suggestions were particularly zeroed in, in the role that the governments, health workers such as nurses and world community should play in provision of health care. Most important in Alma Ata declaration, is the agreement that protection and promotion of health care was not the responsibility of those who were in the meeting only but the world community at large (Harding et al 2006). Primary health care principles Equity in primary health care is used to refer to the extent to which national resources are allocated and accessed by all people. With equal distribution of resources, people will be more empowered to deal with and protect themselves from health related challenges (Chiarella 2008). Accessibility as a primary care principle is used to describe the process through which people receive health care. Accessibility also refers to the five main types of health care activities which include care, promotion, curative, rehabilitation and support are all made universally available to all people irrespective of their geographical location ((Pullen et al 2009). Empowerment is a very important principle of primary health care. This is because it helps the people especially those that are vulnerable to better deal with health issues through access of information and knowledge (Chiarella 2008). The community in primary health care is supposed to play the role of contributing and giving their opinions with regard decision making. The principle maintains that all people must be involved or allowed to participate in health care decisions (Zeiss and Gallagher-Thompson 2006). Self determination principle of primary health care is used to illustrate how individuals should be encouraged to take their rightful role in trying to protect and promote health care (WHO 1978). In primary health care, the principle of intersectoral cooperation is used in the process of establishing the national and local health objectives, health related policies, planning and evaluation of health care services. As shown in the diagram below, different disciplined sectors are expected to collaborate in trying to meet the health needs of families and other consumers (Chiarella 2008). Diagram 1: Link between different disciplines to health Significance of health promotion Health promotion is used as a tool to enhance the people’s control over health issues and their determinants and consequently improve their health status. Health promotion is gaining more recognition and support more especially from those communities or populations that are vulnerable to health challenges. The vulnerable in this case refer to those people who have challenges in accessing health care systems and services and therefore putting them at risk of failing to access proper health care (WHO, 1986, para. 5). In Central Australia, since many of the people live in the suburb areas, for many years it has become increasingly difficult to access health care systems according to ABS report of 2008. Vulnerable populations are caused by a number of things. For instance social-economic status, level of education, genetic disposition, parenting styles, finances, environment in terms sanitation, drought and climate change and politics as well as war have been cited as some of the factors that have led so many populations into vulnerability (WHO 2009). The health promotional has been very instrumental especially in improving daily the living conditions by making sure that basic services such as clean water and good housing are provided (WHO, 1986). The debate over health promotion has been in existence for 28 years now. This is after the Ottawa declaration of 1986. The Ottawa meeting was the first one ever to discuss matters related to health promotion and the idea was to work towards developing different strategies that will ensure “Health for All” by 2000. Health promotion action of the Ottawa declaration was intended at creating awareness among different stakeholders and the consequences of their activities to health protection and services. Further and most important action was aimed ensuring health promotion was enacted in policy to monitor health promotion activities (Harding et al 2006). Creation of supportive environments meant to imply that the world, different nations, regions and all communities are all a like and they are all depended on each other for sustainability (WHO 2009). The declaration found out that health promotion is only to work better where concrete and appropriate actions are taken to prioritize, make important decisions and planning strategies as well as implement them to realize better health for all (Australian Health Care Reform Alliance 2008). Developing personal skills is the action that was agreed by the Ottawa declaration to be taken in order to inform, educate and enhance important life skills in order to increase the people’s ability to take control over their lives. This is especially important in dealing with chronic illnesses and other injuries Harding et al (2006, p. 214). Ottawa declaration recognized that health promotion is the responsibility of various stakeholders including individuals, health professionals, governments, community groups and health service institutions. The objective was therefore to work together as a team towards enhancing health status of all people as argued by Harris and Zwar (2007). Role of health care and promotion in the contemporary society With the increasing pressure both locally and globally to work on strategies to improve on the health status of individuals, its now emerging that many governments and stakeholders are recognizing that they have a role to play in ensuring that good health policies are put in place. The health care and health promotion have been applauded for providing a clear guideline to how each and every person should be involved in matters related to health (Harris & Zwar 2007, p. 57). Health reforms in various countries are coming as a result of primary health care and health promotion programs. In the contemporary society therefore, proper health care has been as a result of primary health care and health promotion as presented by Baum (2009). To illustrate what has been happening in the contemporary society, the health sector reforms in Australia can be a very good example. In Australia, numerous health reforms have been witnessed and this is after recognizing that having strong and quality systems will determine in greater ways how health care is being provided. Health care reforms in the country have been motivated with the fact the country is experiencing major health challenges (Australian Health Care Reform Alliance 2008). For example, Australia is among the top 10 leading countries among the development in recording obesity cases and among the top 5 in skin cancers. In addition, the country is facing serious challenges with regard to smoking, alcohol abuse and gambling something that have continued to impact negatively on the health of the users of these products. It is therefore important to note that, the primary health care and health promotion have come to play a very significant role in pressing the government to enact health reforms in order to better deal with chronic health problems and injuries (Glasgow et al 2008). Further, primary health care and health promotion in Australia, has enabled in minimizing hospital admissions since many people can now access appropriate health care within their communities irrespective of their geographical location. Finally, it’s now evident that the government is embarked in ensuring that all his people are able to receive equitable primary health care irrespective of where they live, ability to pay or the health conditions they are in. Apart from Australia, other industrialized countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom (UK) and New Zealand (NZ), have taken major strides in health reforms to strengthen their primary health care sectors (Harding et al 2006). Factors for success of health programs The world is becoming more aware of the challenges that they are facing as a result of lack of health promotion programs. This is indeed has been activated the interest of many of the people to try and access information about health and how they can be in charge of their health (Kruske et al 2006). Some diseases such cancer and heart complications are extremely very difficult to treat because of the cost. It is therefore becoming important to start health care programs to mobilize resources to assist in securing treatment for those people who are suffering from chronic diseases (Glasgow et al 2008, p. 15). Barriers to health promotion programs Seven though health programs is a very brilliant idea to ensure a healthier generation, its emerging that enormous resources are required to facilitate the implementation processes something that is difficult to achieve especially from the developing countries (Glasgow et al 2008, p. 18). It is expected that for different health promotion programs to work more effectively, first there should be support by policies. However, it is to enact health care polices especially when different people hold very divergent and opposing views, a good example being the health care reform in the United States (Glasgow et al 2008). Conclusion The purpose of this assessment was to investigate into the aspect of primary health care and health promotion and their contribution in the contemporary health society. This report has found out that both primary health care and health promotion have been very instrumental in ensuring the world society is able to access good health care and that all people are empowered to take charge of their own health. Ideally, with primary health care and health promotion now, it is easy for many to access health care systems and services irrespective of the geographical location. Vulnerable communities can live better life after health care services have been available for all. Finally, primary health care and health promotion both have been very important in encouraging health care reforms in many countries in order to mobilize available resources for better health care for all. References Australian Health Care Reform Alliance (2008). Submission to the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission. Melbourne: AHCRA. Baum, F (2009). Linking health policy to the social determinants of health and health equity, from the Australian Health Care Reform Alliance 4th Biennial Summit, 2-3 March, Melbourne, Australia. Chiarella, M (2008). New and emerging nurse-led models of primary health care: discussion paper. National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission. Canberra. Glasgow, N., Jeon Y., Kraus, S. & Pearce-Brown, C. (2008). Chronic disease self-management support: the way forward for Australia. Medical Journal of Australia. vol. 189, no. 10 (suppl), pp. S14-S16. Harding A., Whitehead P., Parisa A., and Chen T. (2006). Factors affecting the recruitment and retention of pharmacists to practice sites in rural and remote areas of NSW: a qualitative study. Australian Journal of Rural Health. Vol. 14, no. 5, pp. 214-18 Harris M & Zwar N. (2007). Care of patients with chronic disease: the challenge for general practice, Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 187, no. 2, pp. 57-61. Kruske, S., Barclay, I. and Schmied, V. (2006). Primary health care, partnership and polemic: child and family health nursing support in early parenting. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 12(2), p. 57-65. Pullen, S., McKinlay, E., and Dew, K (2009). Primary health care in New Zealand: the impact of organisational factors on teamwork. British Journal of General Practice, 59 (560), p. 191-197. World Health Organisation (WHO). (1978). 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