Primary Health Care

As a doctor I have seen different kinds of patients from different strata of society.It is impossible to keep track of all of them or even remember them.But there are a few patients which have made a impression on mind and I would never forget them due to their quirkiness.A mother of a 8 year old tells me"Look at my child he has become so weak , please do a C.T scan for him."
I was at a loss of words.This mother who couldn't pay for proper nutrition of her kid was ready to pay for an unnecessary C.T scan. 

People need to know what facilities are available.There are many programmes and facilities provided by the government but people need to know how to utilize them.Then only these programmes will be succesful.Hence the primary health care.

"Primary health care is essential health care made universally accessible to individuals and acceptable to them, through their full participation and at a cost  the community and country can afford".

Too much academic.....But this definition is necessary and should be applied while providing health care.Last week I had decided to wage a war against the unhygienic conditions and bad garbage disposal practices in my area in Govandi as I have written in my earlier blog.But will they listen to us.We are strangers in their area.How will they start practising what we preach?.My seniors told me that when they realize that they need us and that we can give treatment for their ailment they will start trusting us.Hence primary health care is important.

When I was in Gadchiroli attending a Nirman workshop we had a task.We had to present the working of a primary health centre(PHC) and present the next 2 year plan to help the community.So we made a nice skit with songs in it.The song goes like...With the tune of "Arey tension kayko leneka.....sahi boltay sahi boltay."
" Pujari ke pas jaane ka nahi
Bengali doctor ko bhaganeka
Tere din bhi aayenge chote
sab dard ka davai mil jayega
seheneka nahi ....rukaneka nahi
life me chalte reheneka
Arey seedha PHC aaneka......sahi boltay sahi boltay!!
Humare paas hai MBBS doctor
4 nurse technician aur 1 driver 
sabka labh uthaneka 
Diarrhoea malaria ko hataneka
seheneka nahi .....rukaneka nahi
life me chalte reheneka
Arey seedha PHC aaneka .......sahi boltay sahi boltay!!"

So we thought by providing them with primary health care we can gain their trust.
This week on Monday 1st of May I attended a camp organised by Switch NGO as a general physician.It was a very well organised camp.So I thought why not have a similar mega camp at my UHC.I talked to Vinit the founder of the NGO and immediately in 2 days he came to inspect the area.He also felt that a camp was very necessary in that area.But setting up a camp is not just prescribing medicines.A lot of things have to be taken into consideration

Many people get proper treatment at the tertiary hospitals.But who sees whether they are taking it regularly or if they are having any side effects.So these people can come to the PHC or UHC for followup.I realised this when a patient with uncontrolled B.P and one patient with schizophrenia came to my OPD last week.

I know medical field has advanced a lot with amazing new antibiotics and different technologies for imaging to using 3D printing for doing transplants.But what about health care on daily basis.Who will relieve the knee pain of the 80 year old granny living in the slums?This is where we the community medicine people come into the picture.

This was what I learnt this week...Actually I knew it just got to experience it practically.
Along with us treating the patients its the duty of the community also to take care of itself.
Kalla ka?
May the force be with u!!!
Alvida......Going back to my lazy Sunday afternoon!!
Hoping to learn more amaze things this week!!