Title:
Roles of Primary Healthcare in Emergency Preparedness, Response and Prevention of Re-emerging Infectious Disease Outbreaks: A Narrative Review

Authors:
Ijeoma Kingsley Ogor, John Esimaje Moyegbone, Ezekiel Uba Nwose, Michael Ogorchuku Otutu, Nigeria

Abstract:

World Health Organization defined primary health care (PHC) as an essential component of a nation's healthcare tiers serving as a focal point of each community's socioeconomic growth. For people, communities, and entire national health system, PHC is the grassroots contact point linking individuals with health services. A narrative review of previous literatures were done using search engines including google scholar, Mendeley reference library, and Pubmed. The key words used includes; roles of PHC in infectious disease outbreaks, community engagement in disease outbreaks, roles of PHC in psychological problems secondary to infectious disease outbreaks. Disease surveillance and early detection are critical components of PHC initiatives targeting management as well as control of disease outbreaks. Studies has shown that PHC employees play essential roles in response to outbreaks of infectious diseases worldwide. The roles of PHC cannot be overemphasize in immunization by providing equitable access to vaccines, ensuring their proper storage and distribution, and engaging communities in vaccination programs. PHC supports WASH programs by promoting safe water use, hand hygiene, and waste disposal, reducing disease transmission. Findings indicated adjusted odds ratio for diarrhea was found to be 33% greater in children who did not reside in WASEP communities than in those who did. Primary healthcare in emergency preparedness carry out significant functions in numerous ways with regards to re-emerging infectious disease prevention and control.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.51505/ijmshr.2026.10107