Israel journal of medical sciences
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African conditions and circumstances present specific challenges to health service providers. These conditions have implications for primary health care (PHC), including problems of communication (geographical, educational and cultural), maldistribution of health manpower, political unrest and wars. ⋯ Manpower training should be stressed at all levels of education of all medical and paramedical personnel. The status of PHC in the Republic of South Africa is now well recognized, and provision of the required services has a high priority.
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In South Africa, early lessons in primary health care were lost to sight and have been rediscovered only recently. Priorities need to be reassessed in order to better allocate resources to community needs. Developing and developed communities require different primary care services. ⋯ In developing communities, where there is a shortage of doctors, trained nurses operate local clinics with the help of community workers. Community participation and the cooperation of the traditional healers are necessary. Appropriate training of personnel for an effective role in public health care is essential.