PRIMARY HEALTH-CARE IMPLEMENTATION - EXPERIENCES FROM SOUTH-AFRICA

This paper has two main purposes. The first is to try and bring out so me perceptions of the problems of Primary Health Care implementation i n South Africa and, in particular, the Apartheid System's impact on im plementation. The second is, in view of the current and apparent futur e changes in the country, to assess whether insights from other countr ies in the neighbourhood could offer any lessons. It is hoped that the analysis and insights from these other countries (viz. Lesotho, Zimba bwe, Botswana and Nigeria) may serve to stimulate introspection from P HC enthusiasts from within South Africa, including the staff of the He alth Services Development Unit (HSDU) which has been my source of insp iration. Most of my PHC experience has been pined through HSDU. This p aper intends to kindle the light that may release the energies for dir ecting the focus towards finding a downright practical way of influenc ing effectiveness and offer real hope for New South Africa (NSA). The Hlatlolanang Health And Nutrition Education Centre will serve as a bas e from which learnings and insights from other countries can be experi mented.