PHC, panacea to health for all – WHO

The Director-General, World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, has declared that Primary Health Care (PHC) was the most important step that countries could take toward achieving health for all.

The director-general is quoted as saying this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by Ms Nisha Deolalikar, Manager, Global Health Strategies.

The statement explained that Ghebreyesus made the remarks after a Primary Health Care Performance Initiative at the Global Conference on PHC.

“With the data and insights that the Vital Signs Profiles provide, countries can understand where their systems are weak and take concrete steps to improve them,” it said.

According to the statement, the initiative offers a more complete picture of the state of PHC in different countries than ever before; it also provides insights into where systems are strong and where they can be improved.

Deolalikar said that the initiative helps answer several key questions on PHC systems such as Financing, Capacity and Performance, among others.

She explained that the initiative was a partnership between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, World Bank Group and World Health Organisation in collaboration with Ariadne Labs and Results for Development.

She said the initiative would help policymakers, donors, advocates and citizens better understand and ultimately improve PHC.

“Governments and donors can use each Vital Signs Profile to identify priority areas for improvement, track and trend progress over time, and ultimately improve PHC.

“Advocates and citizens can use the Vital Signs Profile to hold leaders accountable and call for specific financing or policy reforms,’’ it said.

However, the statement noted that more and better data was needed to improve PHC system across the globe.
“Half the world’s population still lacks access to essential health services, the majority of which can be delivered through strong PHC.

“Primary care is a person’s first and main point of contact with the health system, and connects people with trusted health care providers who can meet most of their health needs throughout their lives.

“Recognising the importance of PHC, policy makers, donors, advocates and partners from around the world are coming together this week for the Global Conference on Primary Health Care,’’ the read in part.

It explained that the conference would sign and adopt a new declaration committing policy makers, donors, advocates and partners to strengthen primary health care as the foundation of health for all. - PM NEWS