Health Education & Health Promotion Services

The NPHCDA Ward Minimum Health Care Package outlines Health Education and Community mobilisation as priority interventions to promote community and individual participation and responsibility for health. However, the analysis, description, and plan of action are almost and always limited to the development of integrated and targeted Information, Education and Communication (IEC) messages. An understanding of the community’s health problems is required to complement the IEC messages. The National PHC Guidelines provide for the establishment of Village/Community Development Committees and Ward Development Committees (V/CDCs and WDCs) at community and Ward levels, respectively. It is expected that these committees will serve as the entry points for community participation in PHC, helping to identify health and health-related needs in the community as well as planning for the health and welfare of the populace.

The objective of the Directorate of health education is to improve the utilisation of health services in PHCs. A significant focus of the Directorate is to create demand for health services while improving the healthcare-seeking behaviour of the community members. Promoting community participation and involvement, ownership and sustainability; will also be an essential focus. Attention is given to improving the health of adolescent groups, including a focus on the health of school-age groups.

Outcomes