Making health a primary concern: the Jayawijaya WATCH project Case Study Teacher's Notes Student Activities Look at the photo of the terrain of Jayawijaya and refer to a relief map of Irian Jaya [Papua] in an atlas. Identify the physical obstacles to providing primary health care for people in the highlands? Examine the health indicators for Jayawijaya (see table). Describe the health status of the population, compared with the health status of Indonesians and Australians. What factors have accounted for poor health of children and women in Jayawijaya? Why do you think the project focused on these groups? How would the physical, social and emotional development of children be affected by malnutrition and repeated illness even if they were not fatal? Name the agencies and departments involved in the WATCH program. Classify these as government or non-government organisations. What would be the advantages and disadvantages of a project involving more than one agency? Imagine you are a development worker who notices that women's workload is much heavier than the men's. What consequences might this have for the health and development of the population? How might you try to address this issue with the local people? Read the health messages which are being encouraged as part of the WATCH program. Try to identify the underlying problem which is being addressed in each case. In what ways do the messages take into account the local culture and circumstances? Debate the topic "It's just as important for men to learn about health care as it is for women". Consider both industrialised and developing countries in your arguments. Find out more about oral rehydration therapy. What might be the advantages of using a home-made solution or pre-packaged salts distributed by UNICEF? Investigate other primary health care programs in developing countries (see resources). What do the programs have in common? How do they vary? Develop criteria to decide whether these primary health programs are an effective way of providing aid to improve community health and development. Compare the strategies implemented in Jayawijaya with the strategies used in your own community to optimise the health and development of under-fives and pregnant women. Account for the similarities and differences. Suggest two other strategies (not named here) which might be introduced to improve health in Jayawijaya in future. Give reasons for your proposals.   Top © Commonwealth of Australia