PHC & Rural Health | Hasnat Hussain (Reus-11)

PHC & Rural Health

Q.1) PHC approach is essential for achieving an acceptable level of health
throughout the world as an integral part of social development in the spirit of
social justice.
(a) What are the essential components/elements of a PHC program?
(b) Briefly describe the constraints in PHC.
ANS:
Essential components/elements of a PHC program:
1. Education about prevailing health problems and methods of preventing and
controlling them.
2. Promotion of food supply and proper nutrition
3. Adequate supply of safe water and sanitation
4. Maternal and child health care, family planning
5. Immunization against major infectious diseases
6. Prevention and control of locally endemic diseases
7. Adequate treatment of common diseases and injuries
8. Provision of essential drugs

Constraints in PHC:

Q.2) What is the structure and function of a BHU?

ANS:
Structure:
Consists of a BHU building and staff.
Each UC has one BHU which covers a population of 5000-10000 persons and an area
of 20-40 km (radius).
5-10 BHUs are linked to RHC.

Staff at BHU;
(i)

Stationary staff
Stays at the BHU and the patients come to them.
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PHC & Rural Health | Hasnat Hussain (Reus-11)

(ii)

E.g. medical officer, LHV, dispenser, dai etc.

Outreach staff
Go out to work in the community.
E.g. CDC supervisor
Inspector
Vaccinator

Building of BHU;

Room for MO and LHV

Room for sanitary inspector
Dispensary
Waiting room
Store
Ward (2 beds)
Room for examination of pregnant women

Functions:
1. Maternal and child health services
2. Outreach services to pregnant mothers in the community
3. Promotion and implementation of family planning
4. Advice on food and nutrition
5. Immunization
6. Maintenance of proper sanitation
7. Health education
8. Diarrheal diseases control
9. Malaria control
10.Community diseases control program (CDCP)
11. Acute respiratory infections control program

Q.3) Briefly differentiate b/w comprehensive health care and selective health
care.
Difference b/w comprehensive health care and selective health care:

PHC & Rural Health | Hasnat Hussain (Reus-11)

Q.4) Briefly differentiate b/w primary and secondary level of prevention.

ANS:
Differences b/w primary and secondary level of prevention:
Primary Prevention

Secondary Prevention

Applied before the onset of the disease.

Applied when the disease has already

started.

Applied in the pre-pathogenesis phase.

Applied in the pathogenesis phase.

Achieved by; (i) health promotion (ii)

Specific protection.

Achieved by; (i) Early diagnosis (ii) Early

treatment.

Prevents the disease by not letting it to

occur.

Arrests the disease in the early phase.

Prevents its progression.

Less expensive.

More expensive.

More effective.

Less effective.

Q.5) What is Alma-Ata declaration?

ANS:
Alma-Ata Declaration:
The Declaration of Alma-Ata was adopted at the International Conference on Primary
Health Care (PHC), Alma-Ata), Kazakhstan, 6-12 September 1978.
It expressed the need for urgent action by all governments, all health and
development workers, and the world community to protect and promote the health
of all people.
It was the first international declaration highlighting the importance of primary
health care.
Due to this declaration, all the members of WHO have now accepted that PHC is the
key to the goal Health for All.

PHC & Rural Health | Hasnat Hussain (Reus-11)

Prepared By: Hasnat Hussain (Reus-11)