Traditional Herbal Remedies for Primary Health Care Pdf Free Download
Traditional Herbal Remedies for Primary Health Care by World Health Organization. The Traditional systems of medicines, including herbal medicines, have been used for many centuries for health care by people in countries of the South-East Asia Region as well as in other parts of the world. Traditional medicine continues to be a valuable source of remedies that have been used by millions of people around the world to secure their health. It has been developed from empirical experiences and from observations made by people who use them. It embodies age-old wisdom and knowledge accrued over thousands of years, and forms an integral part of the social and cultural heritage of peoples and countries. The system has been inherited and handed down from one generation to the next by custom and tradition.
Since the concept of “Health for All” through primary health care (PHC) was launched at the International Conference on Primary Health Care at Alma-Ata in 1978, there has been a global movement to realize universal health-care coverage. However, in spite of advances made in the health sector, equitable health care coverage; availability, accessibility and affordability to conventional health care and services are quite often beyond the reach of people who are indigent, marginalized and underserved. Moreover, the present upsurge in the use of traditional medicines or complementary and alternative medicine – generated after the Alma-Ata International Conference has become a global phenomenon. This development portends well for a more comprehensive health care delivery and health sector reform in facing new challenges in PHC due to demographic, economic, environmental, and social changes that have a negative impact on health development.
The revitalization of primary health care in 2008 was yet another clarion call for governments, all health and development workers and the world community to protect and promote the health of all people. In these efforts, the rich resources of traditional and herbal remedies are available and accessible to all who choose to use them by tradition or cultural acceptance in the far and remote corners of countries or by choice of those in the affluent urban communities where there is a desire to return to nature and to use natural remedies in taking care of their own health.
The global health scenario is facing new challenges due to global warming and economic down-turn that are now threatening health development. It is therefore crucial that all systems of medicine – whether conventional or traditional – in so far as they are beneficial and not deleterious to the health and well-being of the people must play their respective roles in promoting health, in preventing disease, in curing the sick, and in rehabilitating the infirm. It is through these concerted efforts that tangible gains can be achieved.
It is envisaged that this publication will be instrumental in revitalizing primary health care in empowering community participation in self-care, in promoting the application of appropriate technology that is socially and culturally acceptable to the people, in making the health system more people-centered, and in improving equitable access to national health systems.
This book is now available here on Pakistan virtual library for online reading and download. Check out the following links to read online or download it in high quality Pdf document format and enjoy offline reading.