Title: Teachers and health workers: partners in primary health care. Experiences from Papua New Guinea.

POPLINE Document Number: 266706

Author(s):

Aarons A

Source citation:

Community Development Journal, 1983;18(2):132-8.

Abstract:

Primary health care (PHC) involves community health education. When health priorities in rural communities are focused on the vulnerable under-5-years-of-age group then one has to examine who actually cares for this age group and what are the most appropriate means of reaching them through health education programs. In the context of rural communities in Papua New Guinea the linking of school and community health programs has been taking place. Examples and insights from programs where teachers and health workers attempted to find appropriate channels for integrating child and adult education in order to improve the health status of the very young child are described. The school programs used a child to child approach to develop in children a sense of shared responsibility with adults towards better health for themselves, younger children in their care and the environment of the community. The goal was a health program that applied to the whole community, where division between child and adult learning activities was not so sharply drawn, and where formal school programs and nonformal community education programs were to complement and contribute to each other. A campaign against infant diarrhea and death through dehydration was implemented. As a result of a 3-day planning workshop a program was drawn up for schools and communities. The workshop covered causes of diarrhea, fluid loss and dehydration, simple preventive and curative measures, essential hygiene habits and current community practices. Teachers, health workers and community leaders fashioned a program of activities for school children and adults. It was discovered that adults often feel a barrier between themselves and the child's school learning. Also, a gap often exists between what is taught in school and what is needed and can be applied to community health priorities. Thus, an effective community health education program that includes both children and adults in an integrated program will need to cover the varying ages and groups of community members who, with different degrees of responsibility, take care of themselves and others.

Keywords:

Child Health
Primary Health Care
Community Health Services
Schools
Papua New Guinea
Integrated Programs
Teachers
Adults
Educational Activities
Health Education
Community Workers
Program Design
Research Report
Summary Report
Rural Population
Rural Health Services
Child Health Services
Diarrhea, Infantile
Oral Rehydration
Health
Health Services
Delivery of Health Care
Education
Developing Countries
Oceania
Programs
Organization and Administration
Age Factors
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Health Personnel
Maternal-Child Health Services
Diarrhea
Diseases
Treatment