Table of ContentsHealth Care Essay PlanIntroductionPrinciples of Primary Health CareComprehensive Approach to Primary Health CareAffordable, Accessible and Appropriate CarePhelophepa trains as exampleMultidisciplinary teamsHealth promotionThinking and looking aheadHealthcare essay exampleWorks CitedHealthcareEssay OutlineIntroductionIntroduction to the importance of accessible healthcare in South Africa and around the worldMention of healthcare primary health care (PHC) and their comprehensive approachPrinciples of primary health careOverview of the three key principles of PHCComprehensive approach to primary health careDefinition and origin of the comprehensive approach to PHC at the Alma-Ata Conference in 1978Emphasis is placed on holistic treatment and general well-beingGoals of primary health care, including promotion of healthy lifestyle, disease prevention and rehabilitationAffordable, accessible and appropriate careThe importance of making health care affordable for allCooperation between government, private and public sectors and the general populationEnsuring that care is culturally acceptable and tailored to the needs of the communityPhelophepa trains as an exampleIntroduction to Phelophepa trains as mobile clinicsLow-cost health services provided by trainsThe role of transport and equipment in making healthcare accessible and appropriateMultidisciplinary teamsThe importance of healthcare professionals with diverse skills working togetherEnsuring a holistic approach to health issuesChallenges in rural areas with limited access to specialist skillsHealth promotionL The importance of preventive health care and educationReducing the need for treatment through public health educationCost-effectiveness and long-term benefits of health promotionThinking and looking aheadThe importance of including Indigenous health knowledge in health care education The need for empathy and a broader understanding of access to health care The role of health professionals in promoting health care universally accessible Health Care Essay Example Health care is something that every person should have access to. But many people in South Africa and the rest of the world cannot afford even the most basic health care. This is a major problem across our society and one that the comprehensive primary health care (PHC) approach aims to address (Alperstein, 2018: 15). Primary health care is important in any community and is based on many principles, three of the most important of which are affordable, accessible and appropriate care, multidisciplinary teams and health promotion (Alperstein, 2018: 23). These principles are wonderfully illustrated by the Phelophepa trains, two trains operating as mobile clinics that tour South Africa (Journeyman Pictures, 2008). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayPrimary health care is the belief that, despite everything else, everyone has the right to health and well-being ( Alperstein, 2018: 22). However, due to societal injustice, poverty often leads to poor health. Therefore, to achieve health for all, social equity must be a priority to ensure that everyone benefits economically and has access to the health care they need. And since the objectives of PHC are very broad, they require an approachglobal and comprehensive (Alperstein, 2018: 23). The comprehensive approach to primary health care was defined at the Alma-Ata Conference in 1978 (Alperstein, 2018: 21) as holistic treatment of health problems, focusing not only on ensuring that the patient n is not sick, but also about one's well-being in all aspects of life (Alperstein, 2018: 23). Comprehensive primary health care is not only curative, it also aims to promote a healthy lifestyle, prevent the spread of diseases and provide rehabilitation if necessary (Alperstein,2018:34). Essentially, the ultimate goal of primary health care is to improve the quality of life of society as a whole – especially those who need it most: the poor (Alperstein, 2018: 34). Primary health care is based on many principles: one of them is providing affordable, acceptable and appropriate care (Alperstein, 2018: 23). The first step to making healthcare accessible to all is to make it affordable for all (Alperstein, 2018: 29). Denying people health care simply because of their financial situation is one of the main reasons why people are forced to go without health services (Alperstein, 2018: 29). To ensure that everyone can afford health care, there must be cooperation between the government, the private and public health sectors as well as the general population (Alperstein, 2018: 29). As for making health care acceptable, everyone involved must be aware of the cultural and religious beliefs and norms of the communities to which they will provide care (Alperstein, 2018: 29). By doing so, the inhabitants of these communities will feel accepted and not offended and will therefore accept the care offered (Alperstein, 2018: 29). Care must also be tailored to the needs of the community; appropriate facilities and technology must be made more readily available to ensure the best possible treatment (Alperstein, 2018: 29). The Phelophepa trains – two trains that run through rural areas of South Africa, are an excellent example of primary health care. essentially operating as mobile clinics (Journeyman Pictures, 2008). Because this project aims to help people in need, costs are intentionally low. For example, dental procedures cost R10, all prescriptions (whether for aspirin or medications for more serious problems) cost R5, and glasses cost only R30 per pair (Transnet Foundation, 2018). The affordable costs immediately make it much more accessible to many people who otherwise would not have been able to afford their treatments. Additionally, Phelophepa trains allow for the transportation of many much-needed equipment, meaning healthcare professionals can provide acceptable and appropriate care (Transnet Foundation, 2018). Another important aspect of primary health care is the cooperation and involvement of multidisciplinary actors. teams (Alperstein, 2018: 23). Having healthcare professionals with diverse skills working together allows the team to provide a holistic approach to health issues and ensure a satisfactory solution that takes into account all needs of the individual and community (Alperstein , 2018: 29). These teams include doctors, physiotherapists, traditional practitioners and many others, depending on the needs of the patient (Alperstein, 2018: 30, 31). Interdisciplinary teams are particularly problematic in rural areas where specialized skills are scarce (Alperstein, 2018: 29). Therefore, forTo ensure equality in health care, we must try to distribute skills equitably between different communities. Once again, the Phelophepa exhibition trains this principle of primary health care. Each train has a permanent staff of nurses, opticians, dentists and even translators (Transnet Foundation, 2018). In addition to their permanent staff, the trains also carry medical students, psychologists and healthcare educators on board (Transnet Foundation, 2018). By having so many healthcare professionals on board, Phelophepa trains are able to provide treatment for a wide range of health conditions and ensure their patients' needs are met. The third essential principle of comprehensive primary health care is health promotion (Alperstein, 2018). : 23). This principle ensures that healthcare is not entirely curative but also preventive (Alperstein, 2018: 29). By educating the public on how to prevent disease and stay healthy, the number of people requiring treatment decreases. This means that the money that would have been needed for treatment can be spent on something else, making it a more cost-effective solution for everyone involved (Alperstein, 2018: 29). This is particularly important for countries that struggle to provide adequate healthcare due to limited funds and resources (Alperstein, 2018: 29). Health promotion and education are areas in which Phelophepa Trains devotes a lot of effort. Their workers participate in multiple awareness programs (Journeyman Pictures, 2008) – for example, dentists visit primary schools to provide education on oral hygiene and there is an AIDS action program aimed at teaching how to manage this disease (Transnet Foundation, 2018). In collaboration with St. John (an organization focused on community health care training), the Phelophepa Trains identify key people in each community visited to train them in home care (Transnet Foundation, 2018). Many workshops are held, aimed at adults and children, and cover many issues from drug abuse to teenage pregnancy (Transnet Foundation, 2018). These health education efforts are a good way to ensure that the Phelophepa train not only helps these communities in the short term but also in the long term and thus improves their overall quality of life (Journeyman Pictures, 2008). The principles of comprehensive primary health care along with the readings on the Phelophepa train certainly opened my eyes to the intricacies of health care as well as the unfair distribution of resources in the health sector. The Western version of healthcare that exists today is only possible because of previous disregard for different cultures and indigenous health knowledge (IHK) (Alperstein, 2018: 15). This has made health care equality even more difficult to achieve and it saddens me that not only are people being subjected to rising health care prices that many cannot afford, but also that a wealth of knowledge has been lost due to past prejudices (Alperstein, 2018: 15). . However, the Phelophepa Trains also showed me that accessible and affordable primary health care for all is possible if the state and the health sector are willing to work together. As a developing integrated healthcare professional, this topic has helped me identify many areas of need. my research into the roots of healthcare.