Family Medicine and Primary Care
Project Overview
Purpose of the project is to strengthen the clinical discipline of family medicine and primary care in Zambia by promoting training, mentorship, research and networking through GAZHP led partnerships.
Definitions:
-Family medicine or family practice is ‘the medical speciality that provides continuing and comprehensive care for the individual and the family. It is the speciality, in breadth, which integrates the biological, clinical and behavioural sciences. The scope of family practice encompasses all ages.’ (1)
– Hence, it is a clinical discipline centred on the family as the basic social unit and is person-centred rather than disease-centred (2). Its focus is on disease prevention, health promotion and maintenance as well as cure. A unique characteristic is that the discipline seeks to understand individual patients within the context of their families and the larger social environments. Importantly, it is not bits and pieces of other speciality clinical disciplines but is designed specifically to deliver primary care to most of the population most of the time for most of their complaints.
-Primary care is ‘a medical care delivery that encompasses first-contact care and assumes an ongoing responsibility for the patient in both health maintenance and therapy of illness. It is personal care involving a unique interaction and communication between the patient and the physician. It is comprehensive in scope and includes overall co-ordination of the care of the patients’ health problems, be they biological, behavioural, or social. The appropriate use of consultants and community resources is an important part of effective primary care.’ (3)
Sources:
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Official definition of family practice and family physician. AAFP Publication no. 303
- Engel CL.1980. The clinical application of the biopsychosocial model. American Journal of Psychiatry 137;353.
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Official AAFP Definition of Primary Care and family physician. AAFP Reporter, 2(6):1, 1975
Our Approach
Objectives
- Introduce clinical coverage by a primary care doctor at the partner Lukamantano / Zambia Helpers’ Hospital in Chilanga, Zambia.
- Establish the core task team to drive and sustain the GAZHP family medicine and primary care project forward.
- Strengthen to international standards Zambia’s family medicine and primary care training regarding knowledge, clinical skills, competencies, and research capabilities as the country is geared towards full implementation of universal health coverage.
- Initiate and promote global networking capacity of GAZHP family medicine and primary care with similar organizations and stakeholders
Success Measures
Objective 1: Number of contracts signed and patients who consulted the doctor/ week
Objective 2: Number of members in the core team from across the globe
Objective 3: Number of agreements signed with UNZA family medicine and other stakeholders; meeting minutes and reports
Objective 4: Number of minutes and reports following meetings with international family medicine and primary care organizations and
stakeholders
The broad project is long-term while sub-projects will be six months to one year and reviewed quarterly and/or annually, as needed.
The Team
Specialization of Family Medicine & Primary Care with the following core members:
Dr John M M Musonda
Family medicine physician with special interest in ethics and professionalism, quality health care and research
(Johannesburg, South Africa)
— Project Lead
Dr Chris Pepulani
Family medicine physician with special interest in general surgery (Perth, Australia)
Dr Joyce S Musonda
Family medicine physician with special interest in substance abuse, community oriented primary care and quality health
care (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Dr Pierre Dil
Family medicine physician with special interest in addiction medicine (Vancouver BC, Canada)
Dr Dereck Maseka
Family medicine physician with special interest in obstetrics and gynecology (Alberta, Canada)