According To WHO Primary Health Care and Role/Important Health Care Worker
Preface:
Primary health care is the key approach for achieving Health for All. At the primary health care level community health workers and other paramedical personnel are playing an important role in the delivery of health care. Although the emphasis is on health promotion and prevention of disease, health workers must learn how to use simple drugs to treat common illnesses and thus gain the confidence of the community. They also need to learn when to refer the patient to a doctor.
Countries in WHO’s South-East Asia Region have now prepared lists of essential drugs to be used by primary health workers. The drugs have been selected on the basis of their proven quality, efficacy, safety, availability and low cost and based on the WHO model list of essential drugs.
For the proper management of some common illnesses, it is not only necessary to know about the properties, uses and possible adverse effects of essential drugs, but also to have a reasonable knowledge about the ailments. The health worker should also be able to identify the stages of illness that call for assistance from a doctor.
This manual is intended to provide guidelines for the use of essential drugs by community health workers and auxilliary health personnel. It also gives guidelines for treating certain common illnesses and identifying patients who should be referred to a doctor. Furthermore, it provides information regarding the management of injuries due to accidents, burns and poisoning, including snake-bite. The manual should prove useful to trainers of paramedical and health workers……
An attempt has been made to write the manual in a simple language, and to give clear and practical instructions to help the user in making decisions when faced with a specific situation. Wherever necessary, illustrations have been included to amplify the technical information.
The responsibilities given to community health workers and paramedical personnel vary from country to country, and also the number of drugs allowed to be used by such persons. Although a single manual may not be able to fulfil the needs of all countries, it is hoped that this manual will serve as a core book to which additions or deletions can be made depending upon the specific needs of a country. It is essentially a prototype. Accordingly, the number of drugs and other topics discussed have purposely been kept large in order to facilitate the work of those who will be selecting material and adapting it to suit specific needs at the country level.
Published By ISBN 92 9022 185 2 @ World Health Organization 2000Essential Drugs: How and When to Use Them
- Aspirin
- Atropine
- Benzyl Benzoate
- Gamma Benzene Hexachloride (Lindane)
- Calamine Lotion
- Chlorhexidine
- Chloroquine
- Chlorpheniramine
- Codeine
- Co-Trimoxazole
- Ferrous Sulphate
- Folic Acid
- Gentian (Crystal) Violet
- Ispaghula
- Magnesium Hydroxide
- Mebendazole
- Metronidazole
- Neomycin-Bacitracin Ointment
- Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS)
- Oral Contraceptive Pill
- Paracetamol
- Penicillin
- Amoxicillin and Ampicillin
- Pyrantel
- Povidone Iodine
- Primaquine
- Ringworm Ointment (Whitfield’s Ointment)
- Salbutamol
- Senna
- Sulphadimidine
- Tetracycline Eye Ointment
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B Complex
- Vitamin D
Common Medical Problems: How to Treat and When to Refer Cases to the Doctor
- Anaemia
- Breathlessness
- Constipation
- Contraception
- Cough
- Diarrhoea
- Ear Problems
- Eye Problems
- Fever
- HIV/AIDS
- Leprosy
- Malaria
- Pain
- Pediculosis
- Poisoning
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Snakebites and Insect Stings
- Skin Problems including Allergic Reactions
- Tooth Problems
- Tuberculosis
- Vomiting
- Wounds, Burns and Shock