The New Primary Health Care in Fiji Its Impact and Implications on the Practitioner in an Indigenous Setting – A Case Study in 2001
- Author:
Isimeli Tukana
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Primary Health Care, Settings, Indigenous Community, Health Promotion, Health Island, New Primary Health Care, Kadavu
- From:Fiji Journal of Public Health
2013;2(1):1-26
- CountryFiji
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Health promotion is a process of enabling people to take control and improve their health. The concept was
adopted by the Ministry of Health in Fiji in 1997, and gave birth to what is referred to as the “new primary
health care” – the strengthening of the health promotion capacity of the existing primary health care system.
Ths study aims to describe the impact of new primary health care on existing primary health care practitioners
in Fijian villages, with the purpose of drawing implications on the processes that may be useful in other
indigenous settings in Fiji. A case study was undertaken to reveal the impact of health promotion in a localized
indigenous setting. The case demonstrated that indigenous Fijian settings are communally oriented and are
affcted by three systems – tradition, Christianity and the Westminster systems of governance – all of which are
potential platforms for health promotion. The study depicts that the major impact of the new primary health
care on the practitioner pertains to the need to acquire health promotion knowledge, attitude and practice, and
related understanding of community development and qualitative research. The acquisition of these knowledge
and skills may then enable the practitioner to strengthen the health promotion capacity of his/her primary health
care practice. In this way, an integrated and appropriate practice model has more chance of evolving and health
outcomes will follow.
