Primary health care Dr. Hassan M. Alnuaimy Msc. Orthodontics

Primary health care(PHC) PHC is essential health care based on practical scientifically sound and socially acceptable method and technology. It is made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community through their participation. It should be at a cost that the community and country can afford to maintain at every stage of their development in the spirit of self reliance and self determination. It become the main health care planning philosophy in both developing and developed countries.

Primary health care (PHC) There are 5 concepts or principles for (PHC): 1. Equitable distribution. 2. Community involvement. 3. Focus on prevention. 4. Appropriate technology. 5. Multisectorial approach.

1. Equitable distribution: Dental health services must be more equally accessible, not neglecting rural, isolated groups and the poor people. PHC aims at providing the whole population with essential health care. Oral health care should be accessible, which implies the continuing and organized supply of care that is;  Geographically.  Financially.  Culturally.  Functionally within easy reach of whole community.

The care has to be appropriate and adequate in content and in amount to satisfy the oral health needs of the people, and it has to be provided by methods acceptable to them. Of all health services dental services are one of the least equitably distributed. The services appear to be designed to meet the needs of the providers than of the public. An attempt should be made to reduce the inequality of dental services to develop a sound dental health manpower system. 1. Equitable distribution:

Oral health care system have been planned and developed for the most part without much community participation. Where communities have demanded oral health services governments have usually provided services which have restorative and rehabilitative emphasis. Community participation in deciding on polices and in planning, implementing and controlling health programs is now becoming widely accepted. The PHC recommends active participation both by the community and by the health personnel is necessary to harmonize views and activities. 2. Community involvement of participation:

Public decision makers should be fully informed about comparative benefits and costs of oral hygiene programs before making policy decision, The benefits of the use of water fluoridation and other fluoride supplements. The reduction in availability of sugar containing in medicines, baby foods, drinks, foods and confections. Optimal oral hygiene and appropriate dental care services should be carefully explained. 2. Community involvement of participation:

The focus of dental health care should be on preventive and promotive approaches rather than curative services. The two major oral diseases; dental caries and periodontal disease can be effectively prevented by available methods. The decline in dental caries which is occurring in most developed countries can be attributed to the use of fluoride, reducing sugar consumption and limiting operative intervention to minimum. 3. Focus on prevention:

The same approach in developing countries are not appropriate because of the cost of preventive programs, therefore, primordial prevention aimed at controlling the availability of refined sugars should include national food and agriculture policy, the first step is to half the increase in dental caries prevalence and then reverse this trend. Population strategies to control periodontal disease should be implemented with community participation. 3. Focus on prevention:

The word technology means an association of methods, techniques and equipment which together with the people using them can contribute significantly in solving a health problem. 4. Appropriate technology:

Many of the commonly used treatment were considered to be either infective, damaging, nevertheless they continue to be widely used. Ex: some methods used to treat periodontal disease. When dental manpower is in short so auxiliaries can be used, the highest priority is the training and employment of health auxillaries to work in the community as well as in public and general oral health practice. 4. Appropriate technology:

Medicinal drugs: are the important components of health technology, drugs for use in the community should be simply and clearly labeled, carry clear instructions and be safe for community health worker to use. It is an advantage if the equipment and drugs selected can be manufactured locally at low cost 4. Appropriate technology:

An acceptable level of health for all can not be achieved by the health sector alone. It can only be attained through national political will and the coordination efforts of the health sector and the relevant activities of other social and economic developments sector. For ex: the control and ultimately the elimination of dental caries is dependent on multisectorial approach involving the agricultural, food manufacturing, advertising health education, pharmaceutical and health care sector. 5. Multisectorial approach in improving oral health:

Thank you