Investment in the primary healthcare sector is necessary when it’s about improving the healthcare system and achieving health goals. The primary health care system paves the steps for building healthy families, promoting self-reliance, and stabilising the communities. The primary care system safeguards national security as its first line of defense against public health vulnerabilities and outbreaks of infectious diseases.
USAID (United States Agency for international development) partners with some countries to enhance their primary healthcare system at the community level. Improving the primary healthcare industry can’t be achieved by the public sector alone. This is something that can be achieved when private, public, and civil society comes all together. When they all work together, it can lead to lower equivalent costs, improve responsive services and improve high-quality standards. It broadens the acceptance by the local communities and also improves efficiency.
Take a brief of the USAID partnership
The global community came together in October 2022 in Astana & Kazakhstan for the 40th anniversary of “Primary Healthcare for All.” They signed a document or new declaration at the conference committing to advancing primary health care in the current development programs. Since this was the first Alma Ata Conference where USAID partnered with small partners, they achieved improved advancements in primary health care. With the help of USAID, now millions of women, children, and other populations access preventive and life-saving health services.
The USAID agency helps to build primary health care and improve the vision of people towards the healthcare industry. In the below points, we have shared some points showing how USAID helps strengthen primary health care services.
How USAID helps for the advancement of primary health care services?
Remove the financial crisis to improve access to & promote health services
With the help of community-based health insurance, USAID improves equity in the healthcare system. It enables people by increasing their incomes to access care without fearing a financial crisis. This also encourages the culture of prevention by encouraging people to use preventive healthcare services without charging any additional cost. The membership premiums are also available, but they are income based.
After getting 10 years of help from USAID, the Social Security Board of Rwanda oversees the management of the community-based health insurance program. When the management transitioned, some board members feared their families wouldn’t receive similar health benefits, but the enrollment rates increased afterward. It shows the efforts made by the local agencies.
Helping village health workers with the first-line treatment for Malaria
Primary health care also supports the village health workers and provides them with the first line of defense treatment against Malaria. A mother reached the VHW Mwoyounotsva Ndhlovu’s door in November by holding a 19-month-old baby. He had a fever, was vomiting and was weak. Instantly Ndhlovu recognized that he had the sign of malaria and that the situation can be deadly for children under the age of 6.
He performed a rapid diagnostic test, which confirmed the disease. He was under observation for the next few days, and soon, he recovered. Ndhlovu said that he could perform his best because of the training provided by the Zimbabwean Ministry of Health and Child Care, supported by the USAID.
USAID’s Support Malawi’s National Community Health Strategy
In 2017, FMoH launched the first national health community strategies. To guide the Myriad community, USAID supports the national healthcare organisation in developing strategies. The FMoH community led the development of a strategy with key partners’ support, including the Aspen management partnership, Save the Children UNICEF, and USAID. USAID helps Malawi’s NCHS for improving its healthcare sector and encourages the community to be aware of the importance of getting healthcare service on time.
The Role of USAID in the Indian health care system
USAID India works for advanced inclusive development & women’s economic empowerment. In India, USAID promotes the rights of marginalised and underrepresented populations. The platform tackles stigma and discrimination. With the help of USAID India, people who belong to this community live happily.
It helps the people belonging to the indigenous and tribal societies. The platform also works for the LGBTQI+ community, women, disabled people, scheduled castes, and youth. The platform builds partnerships and leverages local resources to ensure women have equal rights to access quality healthcare systems. They know women about sanitation, nutrition, education, finance, etc.