P-commendations
1.
Maintenance of a health education “office” within the Public Health
division.
Develop educational materials for use by health workers and in the
community at large, e.g. through radio.
Coordinate
workshops
and
demonstration
projects
to
upgrade
the
educational skills of primary health care workers e.g. medex and health
assistants.
Set targets, design plans and monitor changes in knowledge, attitudes
and practices within the community.
2.
Maternal and Child Health
Maternal and Child Health activities include antenatal, natal and
postnatal care, family planning, immunizations, nutrition education,
~
well child care school health and other health care needs of the mother
and child.
This group is at particular risk, as shown by a relatively
high infant mortality rate.
As with other public health services,
usually only Majuro and Ebeye have organized maternal and child health
care available.
such
And even in these centers certain components of care,
as antenatal
and
postnatal
visits,
family
planning
and
nutritional advice are poorly utilized.
Most aspects of maternal and child health care can and should be
provided through the primary care network.
There does not seem to be a
major problem in the Marshalls with males providing maternal and child
health services except to their own relatives.
There are traditional
birth attendants (TBA's) who relate to the health personnel and assist
in or provide delivery services, but no formal midwifery training has
been provided.
Family
planning
activities
are
still
difficult
to
discuss
culturally but it is expected this resistance will gradually change and
family planning will become an important maternal and child health
component.
Immunization services and school health should continue as
important components and will coordinate with the communicable disease
section and Ministry of Education respectively.