PRIMARY HEALTH CARE INCLUDING
GENETICS AND EMERGING PRIORITIES
Situation analysis
The adoption of the concept and
principles of primary health care
started in Jordan shortly after the
international conference on PHC held
in Alma'ata 1978.
Since that time great achievements
have been made in various fields and
indicators of health have improved
considerably.
Coverage of primary health care
services has improved. The MOH is
the major provider of health
services in the field of primary
health care, with small
contributions from other health
providers.
In spite of the achievements mode,
there are still many challenges
related to quality of services
delivered by Health Centers, and
manpower developmen. Improvement of
management information systems at
the regional and peripheral levels
and assessment and evaluation of the
quality of primary health care
services in the country are
priorities for the MOH.
A major project with USAID called
primary health care initiatives (PHCI)
is currently making a contribution
to strengthening primary health care
ni the country. The project has
several components which include
rennovation of 200 centres,
strengthening health information
systems, provision of equipment and
upgrading the management of comon
conditions in primary care.
Priorities
-
Manpower development,
-
Improvement of management
information systems at the
regional and peripheral
levels
-
Assessment and evaluation of
the quality of primary
health care services in the
country is highly needed.
Objectives
To upgrade primary health care
services, promote quality and
coverage.
Indicators
-
Number of people served by
one health center.
-
Number of people served by
one dental center.
-
Number of people served by
one MCH center.
-
PHC allocated budget
HEREDITARY DISEASES
(GENETICS)
Situation analysis
Inherited Diseases in Jordan are
now considered important health
problems especially when infant
mortality rate decreased form 97
in 1960 to 31.3 on 2000. 48% of
the Jordanian population is in
the reproductive age group.
Consanguinity rate is 50% and
this high rate contributes to
the increase of autosomal
recessive disorders.
Thalassaemia is the commonest
screenable hereditary disease in
Jordan. Carrier rate is 3.4% A
recent study showed a higher
rate in the north. There are
more than one thousand
Thalassaemics, registered at the
governmental hospitals (Amman &
Irbid) and are on regular
treatment with blood
transfusions and desferoxamine (
melating agent). The cost of
treatment is estimated to be
about JD7 million annually.
Premarital Screening for
Thalassaemia started in 1997.
Only 4.7 % of all marriages in
Amman utilized the service.
Health Education, laboratory
facilities and genetic
counselors are deficient.
Objectives
-
Organize and initiate a Cost
Effective Premarital
Screening Programme for
Thalassaemia, in all
governorates of Jordan.
-
Develop community genetics
services in Jordan.
Priorities
Integrating into primary care
the basic public health
approaches for the prevention
and control of common genetic
and congenital disorders.
Indicators
Development of guidelines for
the development of community
genetic services.
