Health promotion education and research centres
ROLE of community leaders and primary health-care providers is essential to build healthy Pakistan.
The Point of optimum health can only be achieved, if we know the signals/alerts, right knowledge and information can help ourselves to protect our lives and save us from hazards, tensions, complications as well as save our finances from blackmailing mafias, quacks, fake spiritual healers. So; the signals having great role, importance and impact in our day to day lives.
We need strong observations to notice, analyze and interpret the signal; ability to look for changes in behaviour of patients and community that can provide early clues of something being wrong.
There are many types of signal, mainly known Red, Yellow and Green are widely, Interpreted as Stop, Alert / ready and Go respectively.
There are many other signs/signals makes readiness and preparedness for prompt actions, Preventions, Protections and other steps to stay safe and healthy.
While in emergency and especially during a crisis these colours are used for TRAIGE purpose so that health services must be ensured on an equity basis.
According to health definition; health referred to the ability to maintain homeostasis and recover from insults.
Mental, intellectual, emotional and social health referred to a person’s ability to handle stress, to acquire skills, to maintain relationships, all of which form resources for resiliency and independent living. This opens up many possibilities for health to be taught, strengthened and learned.
Signals that are key factors to influence whether people are healthy or unhealthy include the following: Income and social status, social support networks, education and literacy, Employment/working conditions, social environments, physical environments, personal health practices and coping skills, healthy child development, biology and genetics, health care services, gender, culture.
The focus of public health interventions is to prevent and manage diseases, injuries and other health conditions through surveillance of cases and the promotion of healthy behavior in communities according to indicators and signals.
Its aim is to prevent health problems from happening or re-occurring by implementing educational programs, developing policies, administering services and conducting research.
The role of primary healthcare provider in public or private is very essential and important. The preference to more curative and less towards preventive side is very alarming.
There are 80% preventive, 10 % curative and 10% rehabilitation role in provision of health care. But the quality adjusted life years will improve when people shall be well informed. The community leader’s role is essential in healthy outcomes.
Covid-19 and other recent epidemics are majors signals for us to readiness and preparedness.
Pakistan is already facing double burden of disease; on other hand our culture, traditions, habits and our approach towards various health issues are very hazy. SDG#3 is about Good health & Wellbeing with 9 targets3.1 Maternal mortality, 3.2.
Neonatal and child mortality.3.3. Infectious diseases, 3.4. No communicable diseases, 3.5. Substance abuse, 3.6. Road traffic. 3.7. Sexual and reproductive health, 3.8. Universal health coverage, 3.9. Environmental health. Rest 16 SDGS are remaining great challenges to Pakistan.
Healthy life style, health safety measures, culture to respect each other and abide by the rules needs critical and concrete measures. Indicators of health and ground reality are very alarming.
We need more disease screening, health promotion, education and research centres to develop the ownership among people to become responsible citizens.
What to understand about alarming and blinking signals “The Life Indicators” are clear directions to take right steps according to the check list of the Sustainable development goals 2030.
The primary health care physicians have to act as seven star physicians; treatment of diseases must be after informed decisions.
The most Senior Medical Officer / Family Physician must be given UC medical officer Title, connected and supervised by the district health and administrative departments (HPER Centres) “The Health Promotion Education and Research Centres”.
The Health Teams Training & development, weekly reporting and further SWOT analysis must be carried out from HPER Centres. Author has developed an idea looking forward Authorities support to develop.
The Union Council Weekly Health promotion and education activities culture must be evolved with weekly meetings with community leaders and grand cleanliness activities.
Healthy & Clean UCS Drive through a competition; Best UCS must be appreciated by community leaders. Tehsil social media page also develop the ownership.
We need to focus on quality of health care. Concrete steps to create positive insight are very essential especially at school age children.
To be patriotic citizens we need to understand and identity citizen and our role towards our Motherland to build safe, clean and healthy Pakistan. Long Live Pakistan.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Rawalpindi.
