Success-Stories-on-Health-Sector

KErala
moving towarDs univErsal HEaltH CovEragE tHrougH Provision
oF ComPrEHEnsivE PrimarY HEaltHCarE
ProblEm statEmEnt
Need of comprehensive primary health care, including
disease prevention and health promotion, to prevent
diseases, reduce morbidity and mortality (on account of
double burden of disease) and also reduce the out-ofpocket
expenditure.
ProgrammE DEsCriPtion
Primary Health Centre, kallikkadu is owned and
operated by the grama Panchayath, kallikkadu. The
centre provides comprehensive health services. The
staff at PHC and SCs works as a part of one team under
the leadership of the MO. There is ownership and
active involvement in all decisions and activities of the
Local Self Government members. Appointed health
volunteers (Every 50 houses one health volunteer) from
the community, apart from ASHAs take the ownership
of health activities. There is a strong focus on prevention
and promotion and community-level interventions such
as active vector surveillance and source reduction etc.
Locally developed innovative iEC/BCC materials and
activities are planned, implemented and the behaviour
change is measured (Reduced OPD, Sanitation, reduced
outbreaks etc). The annual action plan is prepared based
on family health survey.
ProgrammE outComEs
• Full immunisation and anC service coverage.
• iEC- BCC – 347 group talks, 12 group gatherings,
13 health education classes, 298 interpersonal
communications conducted. around 4500 locally
designed Health iEC calendars provided apart from
other iEC materials.
Evaluation
Social Audit of PHC is conducted.
FinanCial invEstmEnt
Funds received from NHM, LSGD and UHC.
sCalibilitY
•
•
•
involvement and empowerment of the community
for owning their health is important and is very
much feasible with appropriate mechanisms. active
involvement of Local Self Governments is a challenge
at this stage. But active pursuance from the Health
Department and its team including participation by
community members will definitely lead to active
involvement of LSGs.
Public Health orientation in both medical education
and in-service training can produce good leadership
at the primary level care. good leadership and
mentorship is of utmost importance for the success of
implementation of primary level care.
Primary care level – target setting, periodic monitoring,
use of data, smooth flow of information across cadres
till community, etc., are critical for improving the
health of the community.
ConClusions/lEssons lEarnt
•
•
•
•
Ownership of health of community in the hands of the
community.
Proper mechanisms needed to empower community
to own their health.
Top Priority Focus on – prevention and promotion and
community-level interventions including addressing
social determinants of health and context-specific IEC-
BCC strategy.
One Primary Healthcare Team (PHCs and SCs as
one unit) plus involvement of community in the
team (ASHAs and Health Volunteers), training and
mentoring of the staff.
•
Practising public health is an art and needs imbibing
by all (staff as well as community) – public health
orientation both in medical education curriculum and
in-service trainings.
Contact
State Nodal Officer-Arogyakiranam
E-mail: keralarbsk@gmail.com, keralaarsh@gmail.com
112 | Making a Difference : good, Replicable and innovative Practices