Group 4: The Alma-Ata provides a definition for Primary Health Care. Using the comprehensive definition, how do the principles ensure that the definition is achieved?

       

An Ethics of Care approach

within our Community

The ethics of care theory believes that context can overrule justice and our universal code of conducts. The ethical care model changes the way moral issues are often interpreted and thus influence the way we may approach moral issues.

Living a good life means caring for others and that is providing respect for any person regardless of their characteristics. Within society Ethics plays a major role, it’s important to us as it grant consistency and help restore the faith of professionals amongst the people.

1.Attentiveness: The recognition of the needs of other’s

2.Responsiblty: The taking-care-of

3.Competence: The Care-Giving

4.Responsiveness: The Care-Receiving

Those are the four ethical elements of care that come into play and within our communities we see them on a regular basis. However, not all communities are the same and some communities are considered vulnerable. Vulnerability is most often associated with poverty. In Mitchell’s Plain, poverty has been a part of this community as far back as the 1970’s when Mitchell’s Plain was first established. Before Nelson Mandela not many had a fair chance at proper education due to apartheid. The lack of education had a back lash on the entire community as majority was non-whites and with this not only was unemployment rates high, but the incline of crime and violence became a reality too.

Amongst all the bad backlash, were successful and well-educated community members. Fed up with the state of their community, they came together and in 2010 that was the start of The Mitchell’s Plain Skill Centre (MPSC). The MPSC is non-profitable organization aiming uplift their community by restoring the root of the problem- lack of education. The MPSC provide them with the skills programs in hopes of equipping fellow members of the Mitchell’s Plain community to find better job opportunities.

               

“Education leads to better employment opportunities and in turn, higher employment brings about higher standards of living, social development and progress. Facilitating skills development and education directed initiatives is one of Mitchells Plain Skills Centre’s key areas of making a difference in the lives of our youth - who are being ravaged by gangsterism and substance abuse and unemployed in the area.” – MSCP

                              

The MPSC’s focused on empowering the people. The organization took the responsibility upon themselves and together they initiated programs that ranged from bridging course from grade 8-12 up until entrepreneurial skills workshops. Bridging courses was meant to take care of school leavers that’s would like to fill the gap in their school careers and restore their faith in their future. Workshops were introduced, entrepreneurial skills which worked hand in hand with some of the skills they taught

the community members. Some of the examples included art and domestic skills The MPSC have highly educated facilitators to teach the students, assisting them to eventually matriculate, no matter their characteristics. The success of this organization can be measured by the amount of success stories often posted on their website, below is one of the many testimonials:

"I am very grateful for the Skills Centre and the members of the Board for giving the community of Mitchells Plain the chance to acquire some skills to empower and educate them to the best of their ability. SO, I thank all the parties involved and we admire the patriotism of the people that helped establish this Skills Centre.

Hope for greater opportunity in the future for the next generation. Thank you."

                                                                                       Ricky Gavin Willeman

REFENCE: MITCHELL'S PLAIN SKILLS CENTRE WEBSITE (http://mitchellsplainskillscentre.co.za/index.html)