Our first few lectures covered the Declaration of Alma Ata. The document was written in 1978 as a way to set out on achieving health for all. We also have heavily reviewed Dr. Carl Taylor's work who pioneered primary health care programs in India and China. We were asked to right a paper on Dr. Taylor's work and I thought I would share it with you. It might seem a little bit out of context, but maybe these 400 words or so can give you a better idea of work that is going on all around the world. I hope to once again get back on my Monday Moves postings next week. Enjoy!
The work of Dr. Carl Taylor demonstrated key principles that support the goal of “achieving health for all.” Maintaining a community focus and a comprehensive method to providing primary health care are key principles in the horizontal, community-based primary health care approach. Dr. Taylor demonstrated in his lecture that these principles of primary health care can be traced back in history.
The horizontal approach to primary health care includes a community focus. Dr.Taylor seemed to be urging for more community focus in not only his lecture but also in the programs that he developed such as the Seed-Scale. His interest in community-based primary health care seemed to be more about “people rather than numbers.” Current horizontal programs such as the Tiyatien Health Project incorporate this community focus into each level of their programming. By training “front-line workers” in the remote, rural areas of Liberia, individuals in the community are trained and then partake in the program implementation. Dr. Taylor spoke of how ancient systems utilized this community approach. The people in ancient Babylon would bring the sick in a bed to the square and people from the community would give advice on how to improve their health. This example demonstrated the focus of the community in the historical roots of primary health care.
Another principle of primary health care that Dr. Taylor reiterated is the need for an integrative and comprehensive approach. This principle was also demonstrated in the ancient systems that Dr. Taylor discussed. For example, the traditional Indian system of Ayurveda which translates to “the science of life” is both preventative and holistic. Dr. Taylor used this example to demonstrate how different cultures not only have established health systems but that the ancient health systems also utilized a comprehensive approach to health care. This integrative delivery of primary health care has a stark contrast to the selective systems that typically bring interventions that are strictly disease focused. Horizontal campaigns like Jamkhead Comprehensive Rural Health Project include educational interventions and community development to improve the overall health of the community. Jamkhead also demonstrated this integrative approach as it seeks to tackle the “first causes” of health care through education and training.
At times the magnitude of the problems can dishearten even the most passionate of people. When reflecting on her experience working with orphaned children in Uganda, Katie Davis said that “sometimes working in a Third World country makes me feel like I am emptying the ocean with an eye dropper.” As each person is asked to assess and analyze what his or her eye dropper could be in achieving health for all, it will be important to remember these two principles taught in Dr. Carl Taylor’s lecture and in his life work.
