Evaluation implementation of primary health care in selected provinces in the Sudan.

This evaluation undertaken by a team sponsored by the Ministry of Health (MOH) Sudan UNICEF USAID and WHO addresses the question of progress being made in the implementation of Sudans Primary Health Care Program (PHCP) in 4 provinces selected for detailed study. Although MOH places high priority upon the PHCP and donor agency contributions have been significant sociopolitical economic and technical constraints have had an impact upon the program. These include the decision to decentralize the governmental apparatus to regional level; stringent financial limitations especially for foreign currency exchange; weaknesses within the managerial-supervisory component of the MOH supporting infrastsucture including brain-drain to neighboring countries; maldistribution of medical and health personnel; problem of transport communication and commodities with drugs at PHCU level in particularly short supply. The evaluation report addresses selected qualitative aspects of the PHC worker activities in terms of preventive-promotive health activities compared to curative (low to absent) supporting structures in manpower development supervision (weak) logistics health information system components and recurrent cost factors. A series of recommendations is included.