Halting health hazards! Primary health care in Laos Case Study Click on either of these two links for further information about this case study: Case Study   Student Activities Overview This case study highlights the serious health problems that have been experienced by the people of Laos and how these problems are being strategically addressed. It looks specifically at one province in Laos where Save the Children Fund Australia, in partnership with the Australian Government, have made a significant impact not only in saving lives but in successfully reversing the poor levels of health of the population. The crucial tactic of training and empowering local people to run and support their own health services is an essential feature of the sustainability of the project. Student activities are designed as a smorgasbord of approaches to explore the diverse issues involved in such a project. Level Middle Secondary Objectives Students: investigate management strategies and problem solving within different levels of public health explore how the collection and analysis of data impacts on decision making and evaluate the sustainable development and use of human and manufactured resources develop values consistent with a commitment to redress disadvantage Links with nationally-developed statements and profiles Studies of Society and the Environment Investigation, Communication and Participation Natural and Social Systems - Models of System Operations Resources - Management and Enterprise Preparation Copies of the Case Study An outline of a three-tiered pyramid Multiple overhead transparencies and pens Procedure Ask students to define what is meant by the health status of a population. What would be the indicators of good health and access to health services? List these on the board. Invite students to form into pairs to brainstorm the reasons for tracking and monitoring the health status of any population. Students can brainstorm and record their ideas as a three-tiered pyramid at local, state & national levels. Teacher records some of these as students feedback ideas. Introduce the Primary Health Care in Laos case study and invite students to read it. Students discuss why the Save the Children Fund/AusAID Project needs to monitor health levels and the on-going health needs of the local populations. Teacher explains that the most regular health monitoring is undertaken through data recording and collection at village, dispensary and district level. Quantitative data is gathered through the completion of 'Monthly Report Forms'. Invite students into different groups to develop a 'Monthly Report Form' for one of the following health service groups: VHVs, TBAs, Dispensary Staff or District Hospitals. Students should consider carefully the type and categories of data that would be needed for a. project impact assessment and b. health services planning. Students draft their form and then use overheads and pens to outline their draft form. Groups present these to the class, outlining the reasons for each inclusion. * Further information and resources can be obtained from the Professional Development Providers. Top © Commonwealth of Australia