1.1.0 Brief Description of the Building Type
Primary Health Care (PHC) is driven by a political philosophy that
emphasizes a radical change in both the design and content of
conventional health care services. It also advocates an approach to
health care principles that allow people to receive health care that
enables them to lead socially and economically productive lives (Dennil
et al. 1999: 2). The Alma-Ata declaration of September 1978 defined the
concept of PHC as essential care based on practical, scientifically
sound and socially acceptable health care methods and technology, made
universally accessible to individuals and families in the community
through their full participation and at a cost that the community and
country can afford to maintain at every stage of their development in
the spirit of self-reliance and self-determination. It forms an integral
part both of the country’s health system, of which it is the central
function and main focus, and of the overall social and economic
development of the community. It is the first level of contact for
individuals, the family and the community within the national health
system, bringing health care as close as possible to where people live
and work, and constitutes health care services (WHO 1998: 15). In
addition, Alma-Ata declaration states that any Primary Health Care
program should include at least the following components, namely,
education about prevailing health problems and methods of preventing and
controlling them; the promotion of food supply and proper nutrition; an
adequate supply of safe water and basic sanitation; maternal and child
health care, including family planning and care of high risk groups;
immunization against the major infectious diseases; prevention and
control of locally endemic diseases; appropriate treatment of common
diseases and injuries and the provision of essential drugs, including
vaccines.
Primary Health Care Centre is the cornerstone of rural health
services- a first port of call to a qualified doctor of the public
sector in rural areas for the sick and those who directly report or
referred from Sub-Centres for curative, preventive and promotive health
care (India, 2002). Primary Health Care Centre is a basic health unit to
provide as close to the people as possible, an integrated curative and
preventive health care to the rural population with emphasis on
preventive and promotive aspects of health care.
We are in a period of major change, with more being provided at primary level rather than in hospitals.
1.2.0 Client Background History
The Client/User
As part of the “change” campaign of the current
administration in the State of Osun, the Obokun Local Government of the
state under the leadership of the Local Government Chairman, has
proposed an efficient Primary Health Care Centre for the benefit of the
people in Obokun Local Government Area, as the current Centres in the
area are inadequate in terms of quality of the services they
render/offer.
Brief History of Obokun Local Government Area
Obokun is a Local Government Area in Osun State, Nigeria. Its
headquarters are in the town of Ibokun at 7047’00”N 4043’00’E /
7.783330N 4.716670E. Other towns in Obokun Local Government Area include
Imesi-Ile, Otan-Ile, Esa-Oke, Ilase, Iponda, Ikinyinwa, Idominasi and
Ora.
Project Location
The Primary Health Care Centre is being proposed to be located in
Iponda town in Obokun local government area, Osun state, Nigeria,
Africa. Its geographical coordinates are 7o 44’ 0” North, 4o 43’ 0”
East. Obokun local government covers a total land area of 527km2 (203sq
mi), and a total population (according to 2006 census) of 116,511.