People's Community Clinic: collaboration in the Third World
Morris, R.I.
Nursingconnections 5(4): 29-38
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0895-2809 PMID: 1293517 Document Number: 329407
The planning of a Primary Health Care Clinic in a squatter community, in association with a West African nation's training program for mid-level health workers, is described. The allied health training faculty initiated the project, in an effort to expand their student clinical experiences, with a tour of rural health facilities. As a result, a planning committee selected the neighboring squatter community as the site of a primary health care (PHC) project. The planning team met with community leaders, and they agreed to provide PHC services, sanitation, and student training. Community meetings were held to plan their input: the community would provide and maintain a building, a health committee, and volunteers. A consultant was hired to do a community survey, map the population of 2500 and its 490 households and 176 houses. It was found that there were 20 pit latrines, 32 water sources, no garbage handling, and problems with insects, rodents, and snakes. The community had an infant mortality rate of 120/1000, 11% of the women were pregnant; only 12% used family planning, but 40% wished to do so. The People's United Community Clinic was to be operated by faculty, students, and community members. Memberships were offered for 50 cents. After 4 months of planning, the clinic opened with 900 members. 1458 patient visits and 10 deliveries were accomplished within 6 months. Fees were charged for visits and drugs. Accounting was done by a Peace Corps volunteer. This model of a partnership between a training institution and the community has potential for replication in a wide variety of settings in both developing and developed countries.