Dynamics surrounding the Implementation of the Primary Health Care Approach in Zimbabwe’s Rural Areas: The Case of Mt Darwin District
DOI:
Abstract
This research studied the implementation of the Primary Health Care approach to health service delivery in Zimbabwe’s rural areas from 2009 to 2012. The approach was launched in response to the Alma-Alta Declaration in 1978 which sought to end the inequalities in health care provision around the globe and was first adopted and implemented in 1982 in Zimbabwe. The approach almost collapsed due to the economic meltdown in the past decade but the period 2009 to 2013 marked a new economic paradigm in Zimbabwe which saw the economy being dollarized which subsequently led to the revival and the resuscitation of the health sector. It is therefore to explore the progress and the dynamics surrounding the implementation of the PHC at Mt Darwin Hospital in light of the dollarized economy. The study explores the dynamics surrounding the implementation of PHC at Mt Darwin District Hospital by particular attention to the following key elements: promotion of nutrition, sanitation, maternal and child care, immunization, treatment of common diseases and provision of essential drugs. Qualitative techniques such as face to face interviews with key informants and documentary research were used to generate data. The research findings revealed that PHC is a powerful tool in delivering health services in Mt Darwin. However, lack of material, financial and human resources have hindered the proper implementation of the PHC approach in Mt Darwin district. The study recommends multi sectoral collaboration in solving health related issues.
Downloads
Views : 261
Downloads : 231
References
A. L. Hixon, and G. G. Maskarine, “The Declaration of Alma-Ata on its 30th Anniversary: Relevance for Family Medicine Today,” FAM Med, vol. 4, no. 8, pp. 585-8, 2008.
Alma-Ata Declaration, Primary Health Care, World Health Organization. Geneva, 1978.
D. Sanders, “Equity in Health: Zimbabwe Nine Years On”, Journal of Social Development in Africa, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 5-22, 1990.
J. M. Kazembe, The women issue, in Mandaza Ibbo (Ed), Zimbabwe: The Political Economy of Transition, 1980-1987. Dakar: University Press, 1986.
R. Sunanda, and N. Masuka, “Facilitators and Barriers to Effective Primary Health Care in Zimbabwe,” African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 23-45, 2017.
A. Mlambo, and B. Raftopoulos, “The Regional Dimension of Multi Layered Crisis: An Analysis," 14 June 2009. [Online]. Available: www.iese.ac.mz/lib/publication/proelit/Alois-Mlambo.pdf. [Accessed: September 2020].
World Bank World, “World Development Indicators," July 2005. [Online]. Available: http:// www.worldbank.org, 2005. [Accessed: September 2020].
G. Kanyenze, “The Outlook for the Zimbabwean Economy,” Harare: Supporting Economic Transformation, 2017.
S. Shoultz, and D. Hatcher, “A Critical Practitioner for Every Person in the World,” Health Policy Developments, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 34-68, 1997.
Institute of Medicine, National Strategy to Reduce Social Inequalities in Health. Oslo: Govt Press, 1994.
World Health Organization, World Health Organization Report. United Nations: New York, 1978.
World Health Organization, World Health Organization Report, Primary Health Care, Now More than Ever. United Nations: New York, 2008.
R. MacLean, A. S. Tarlier, and F. Steward, “No cookie-cutter response, Conceptualizing Primary Health Care, Tutor-PHC 2003/2004,” Reseach Trainees. Vancouver: University of British Columbia, 2004.
M. Mona, “Key Elements of Primary Health Care," June 2016. [Online]. Available: www.nursingexercise.com. [Accessed: September 2020].
R. Loewenson, The political economy of health and nutrition. London: McMillan, 1998.
Ministry of Health and Child Care. “The National Health Strategy for Zimbabwe 2016-2020,” May 2016. [Online]. Available: http:// www.zimgov.co.zw. [Accessed: October 2020].
Zimbabwe Statistics. “Population Census,” May 2012. [Online]. Available: http:// www. zimstats.co.zw. [Accessed: September 2020].
Zimbabwe Health Matters. “Primary Health Care Strategy in Zimbabwe,” July 2012. [Online]. Available: http:// www.zimgov.co.zw/Ministry of Health and Child Welfare. [Accessed: November 2020].
D. H. Peters, A. Gary, G. Bloom, D. G. Walker, W. R. Brieger, and M. H. Rahman, Poverty and Access to Health Care in Developing Countries. New York: Ann Publishers, 2008.
I. Abdulrahem, A. R. Olapipo and M. O. Almodu, “Primary Health Care Services in Nigeria: Critical Issues and Strategies for Enhancing the Use by the Rural Communities,” Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 38-52, 2012.
T. Murisa, Social Development in Zimbabwe, Discussion Paper Prepared For the Development Foundation for Zimbabwe. Harare: DFZ, 2010.
E. E. Obioha, and M. G. Molale, “Functioning and Challenges of Primary Health Care Program in Roma Valley,” Lesotho. Ethon Med, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 135-56, 2011.
E. Mike, “Community Participation in PHC services in Nigeria,” February 2010. [Online]. Available: www.ngnhc.org/. [Accessed: September 2020].
I. S. Hegazy, M. S. Ferwana, and N. A. Qureshi, “Utilization of Maternal Health Services of Comparative Study between Residents and Nomads,” Saudi Medical Journal. vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 45-68, 1992.
D. Howitt, and D. Cramer, Social Science Research: Techniques and Applications. New York: Longman, 2005.
J. Castillo, Sampling Techniques Revised. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009.
Alma-Ata, Declaration of Alma-Ata International Conference on Primary Health Care. USSR, 1978.
C. K. Toshobya, and P. O. Ogwal, “Primary Health Care and Health Sector Reforms in Uganda,” Health Policy and Development Journal. vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 45-67, 2002.
APNA. “Supporting Nurses in Primary Health Care," May 2012. [Online]. Available: www.apna.asn.au. [Accessed: November 2020].
Zimbabwe Health System Assessment, “Health Barometer,” August 2010. [Online]. Available: www.healthsyte ms2020. [Accessed: November 2020].
Reuters, “Primary Health Care Reforms in Sub Saharan Africa,” October 2010. [Online]. Available: www.reuters.org. [Accessed: September 2020].
Government of Zimbabwe National Health Strategy for Zimbabwe, “Health Strategy 2009-2013,” March 2009. [Online]. Available: http:// mhcw.gov/ Ministry of Health and Child Welfare/. [Accessed: September 2020].
Government of Zimbabwe, “National Health Account 2015 in Zimbabwe,” July 2015. [Online]. Available: http:// www.zimgov.org. [Accessed: July 2020].
P. Barros, and J. Simoes, “Portugal: Health System Review. Geneva WHO Regional Office for Europe on Behalf of the European Observatory of Health Systems and Polices,” June 2008. [Online]. Available: http:// www.euro.who.int/Document/E90670pdf. [Accessed: November 2020].
