From Our Correspondent: Primary health care implementation: experiences from South Africa: Fid-Bau Portal

From Our Correspondent: Primary health care implementation: experiences from South Africa

Mazibuko, R. M.

This paper has two main purposes. The first is to try and bring out some perceptions of the problems of Primary Health Care implementation in South Africa and, in particular, the Apartheid System's impact on implementation. The second is, in view of the current and apparent future changes in the country, to assess whether insights from other countries in the neighbourhood could offer any lessons. It is hoped that the analysis and insights from these other countries (viz. Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Nigeria) may serve to stimulate introspection from PHC enthusiasts from within South Africa, including the staff of the Health Services Development Unit (HSDU) which has been my source of inspiration. Most of my PHC experience has been gained through HSDU. This paper intends to kindle the light that may release the energies for directing the focus towards finding a downright practical way of influencing effectiveness and offer real hope for New South Africa (NSA). The Hlatlolanang Health And Nutrition Education Centre will serve as a base from which learnings and insights from other countries can be experimented.