What is a primary health center?
It is a health care facility at rural level that provides basic health support to the population of that area and is fully funded by the government. The medicines at these centers are provided by the local governing bodies, and the treatment requires very little to no cost. Basic medications like vitamin supplements, iron-frolic acid tablets, lower antibiotics, zinc and calcium supplements, etc. are provided free of charge. Various antenatal camps are held for pregnant women, which provide a diagnosis of any complication during pregnancy and, if identified, refer them to nearby government hospitals. Various consultants also visit the PHC once a week for different reasons.
One of the nurses present here showed us around this center, where there are wards to admit women who have just delivered. The women with normal deliveries stay for up to 3 days, and those with C-sections stay for 5 days, with complete meal provision from the government itself.
It is extremely important to carry out safe hospital deliveries to prevent postpartum complications for mother and child.
There is a room for the chief medical officer, who is in charge of the particular center. Consultant doctors visit here every week, like pediatricians, gynecologists, etc., to provide insight in cases of serious ailments.
Most importantly pregnant women are diagnosed for any ante partum complications like oliguria, eclampsia, etc. There is a small room for minor surgeries like tubal ligation, which we got a chance to witness. A surgeon visits the PHC every Wednesday to carry out these surgeries. We were also taken to a nearby Anganwadi, which was associated with this center.
The Anganwadi is a place where various children are admitted from a young age and acts as a center for education from childhood itself. Formal and non-formal education is provided to them. Every Thursday is immunization day, when women from the villages, along with their children, are gathered to receive immunization.
Children are taught in fun and interactive ways. It is also built beautifully with attractive wall posters, hanging mobiles, etc. We interacted with many women and their children, and all of them told us how beautifully the anganwadi has helped them. They also provide nutritious breakfasts to the children who come there every day. They possess records of every birth in their PHC, their immunisation history, etc. We were shown the cold chain carrier used for the transportation of vaccines.
Overall, the PHC is doing great work maintaining such vast records and providing healthcare for some minor ailments in a highly organized manner.
(GS)