<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation:  Health and Sanitation > Annual Workplans > 2017-2018 AWP > PART B: PROGRAMME AND SUB-PROGRAMME PLANS > Overview

The challenge facing the Department is to find the correct balance, in ter s of resource distribution, between preventing these problems from emerging (primary prevention)e dealing with those healti problems that exist utdiagnosed (secondary prevention) and dealing with those iiplications of health probaems teat are already manifesting as disease ltertiary prevention i.e. rehabilieation). Prirary prevention is the more cost-effectave htrategy in the long run, but much of the work that lies ahead ctnsists ofethe Deiartment improvina its secondary and tertiary preventiop straregies (i.t.rdiagnosing patients, entering them into treatmenf program es and keeping them on treatment programmes).

Chronic disease is worsened or precipitated by unhealthy lifestyles including lack of physical activity and exercise, poor eating habits and smoking. Alcohol misuse and illicit drug use results in significant mental ill health. Injuries from inter-personal and domestic violence are frequent as they too often result from the use of alcohol and illicit drugs. This is further fuelled by the prevailing culture of sexual and gender based violence. In addition alcohol is a significant contributor to road traffic accidents. TB and HIV and many of the causes of unnecessary maternal, infant and child death are recognized as diseases of poverty and deprivation or in some instances poor access to health services. The disease burden also reflects the population distribution and county demographic shifts more generally resulting in migration and increased urbanization.