Abstract
Coronaviruses are a wide family of viruses that can cause various conditions. COVID-19 is the most recently discovered infectious disease caused by the coronavirus. Primary Health Care in Cuba is maintained as the central axis of the Health System, with coverage and universal access for the entire population. It is the responsibility of the Basic Health Team, made up of the family doctor and nurse, as health promoters closest to the community, to guide the population in this regard, as well as to explain the protection measures that they must adopt to avoid contagion of the illness. Only with health promotion and prevention can to stop the Coronavirus.
Keywords:Coronavirus; COVID-19; Primary Health Care
Introduction
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a broad family of viruses that can
cause a variety of conditions, from the common cold to more
serious illnesses, such as a severe acute respiratory syndrome
[1]. COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by most recently
discovered coronavirus. Both the new virus and the disease were
unknown before the outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December 2019
[2]. The concept of Primary Health Care (PHC) was consolidated
in the International Conference on Primary Health Care, Alma
Ata, 1978. In point VI of the Declaration of this conference, it is
defined as “… the first level of contact of the individual, the family
and the community with the national health system, which brings
health care as close as possible to where the population lives and
works and constitutes the first element of a permanent health
care process” [3]. PHC in Cuba is maintained as the central axis of
the Health System, because there is total coverage and universal
access for the entire population, it is the first contact, it provides
comprehensive, integrated, dispensed and continuous care, it makes
family counseling possible and community, actions are aimed at
promotion and prevention, promote appropriate care according to
the needs of care, also, assesses the organization and actions to be
carried out in accordance with the strategies of the Cuban Health
System and the needs of the population in consistent with available
resources, guarantees and organizes adequate human resources
according to the needs of the population, promotes and maintains
inter sectoral actions as a basic principle, and the family doctor
and nurse model is based on a political, legal framework and solid
institutional [4].
The APS leads the health system in Cuba. The health systems
led by the PHC allow us to consolidate and maintain the progress
made, as well as to face the new health and development challenges
[3].The role of PHC in the face of the coronavirus pandemic,
according to the authors, rests on two fundamental aspects: Firstly, the education of the population with all the measures to be adopted
to prevent the imminent possibility of contagion of the disease
with the objective that they are capable of protecting themselves
and, in second order, but not least, the investigation, isolation and
control of all persons who may constitute a risk of development and
expansion of the disease, also applying the measures of International
Health Control. As well as the immediate diagnosis of symptomatic
cases for transfer, confirmation and isolation in a healthcare unit,
avoiding transmissibility and providing timely treatment. It is
of utmost importance that the population acquire perception of
the risk to which they are exposed. It is the responsibility of the
Basic Health Team (EBS) integrated of the family doctor and
nurse, as health promoters closest to the community, to guide
the population in this regard, as well as to explain the protection
measures that they must adopt to avoid the spread of the disease.
Given the high contagiousness of this disease, the population must
take responsibility for its self-protection and the protection of
its family, but that only happens with adequate health education.
Cuba, over the years, has demonstrated the strength of its health
system. An example of this is the eradication of diseases such
as malaria, schistosomiasis, yellow fever, which despite being
endemic in countries where there is Cuban collaboration, and
having presented in Cuba incidence of these imported diseases, no
transmissibility has been reported of them thanks to the application
of the International Health Control Program. In the face of this new
epidemic, this program is applied in a similar way, but taking into
account the specific characteristics of the COVID-19 disease.
References
- https://www.who.int/es/healthtopics/coronavirus.
- https://www.who.int/es/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/q-a-coronaviruses
- Delgado García G, Rojas Ochoa F (2014) Antecedentes de la atención primaria de salud en Cuba En: Álvarez Sintes, Medicina General Integral. Salud y Medicina La Habana: Editorial Ciencias Médicas 1(3): 59-68.
- Álvarez Sintes R (2014) Renovación de la atención primaria de salud En: Álvarez Sintes, Medicina General Integral. Salud y Medicina La Habana: Editorial Ciencias Médicas 1(3): 77-87.