Integrating leprosy control into primary health care: the experience in Ghana.
Lepr Rev
; 65(4): 376-84, 1994 Dec.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-7861923
ABSTRACT
PIP: During the period from the late 1940s to the mid-1980s, the Ghana Leprosy Control Programme was a vertical program based out of Ankaful Leprosy Hospital. It has four other leprosy hospitals. The administrative and technical aspects of the program, once handled by the program's Senior Medical Officer, are now handled at the regional, district, and subdistrict levels. Headquarters' responsibilities now include development of national leprosy control policies, monitoring and evaluation of regional programs, technical advice and support, intermediary between the Ministry of Health (MOH) and donors, development of health education materials, and training of trainers in leprosy control. Events leading to integration of leprosy control into primary health care include: the 1978 Alma Ata Conference and resultant reorganization of the MOH; 1981 termination of training of specialized leprosy technical officers and training of multipurpose technical officers for epidemiology; and the economic crisis in the early 1980s. Since the mid-1980s, the MOH has introduced various initiatives to strengthen health care management at the district level (e.g., establishment of district health management teams). Once the MOH set the foundation for integration at the district level, in phases, it devolved the program's administrative functions to regions and some functions to district and subdistrict levels; prepared health care managers and providers for management of leprosy control within their regions; clarified roles of specialized leprosy technical officers vis-a-vis nonspecialized leprosy care providers; set up systematic monitoring and evaluation of programs at all levels; and strengthened the capacity of district hospitals to recognize and manage leprosy complications. Headquarters oversees the regions two times per year. The leprosy technical officer monitors each district four times per year. The district technical officer oversees each subdistrict once a month. Each level provides feedback. Donors were amenable to the transition's changing needs.
Palabras clave
Africa; Africa South Of The Sahara; Bacterial And Fungal Diseases; Case Studies; Delivery Of Health Care; Developing Countries; Diseases; Economic Factors; English Speaking Africa; Ghana; Health; Health Services; Infections; Integrated Programs; Leprosy--prevention and control; Macroeconomic Factors; Management; Organization And Administration; Primary Health Care; Programs; Public Sector; Studies; Western Africa
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Servicios Preventivos de Salud
/
Atención Primaria de Salud
/
Lepra
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Lepr Rev
Año:
1994
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Ghana
Pais de publicación:
Reino Unido