Support to Primary Health Care in Transitional Situations: Lessons Learned from the Field

In a war context, a transition period begins when the guns fall silent following a ceasefire or a peace agreement is signed. In a natural disaster context, it starts as soon as the search and rescue activities are over. Progression from the emergency to the transition phase is often a tedious process, involving a complex emergency context, unforeseen additional and emerging needs and the presence/withdrawal of stakeholders. Humanitarian aid commonly described in most emergencies often persists during the transition phase. It requires them to make a complete shift in its approach, planning, financing, performance monitoring and evaluation. In transition situations, the key is to develop national and international partnership in respect to primary health centres, with a clearly-defined, realistic and participative public health methodology. This paper, a review of some key humanitarian guidelines and peer reviewed studies, is presented with a methodological approach with a succession of practical questions, answers, and documented case examples and targets central, provincial and district health facilities and national and international public health workers facing the challenges of a fragmented and fragile post-emergency health service network.