Working with 350 + VHSNCs
Strengthening VHSNC
Village, Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Committee (VHSNC) is one of the key elements of the National Rural Health Mission. LEADS has been working with more than 350 VHSNCs in process to generate a platform to discuss, identify and then recommend solutions to health issues for men, women, pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girl and children.
The committee has been formed to take collective actions on issues related to health and its social determinants at the village level. They are particularly envisaged as being central to ‘local level community action’ under NRHM, which would develop to support the process of Decentralised Health Planning. Thus, LEADS is extending support for strengthening VHSNC to make it able to take leadership in providing an effective platform for improving health awareness and access of health services at community level. LEADS has also strengthened them to addresses specific local health and nutrition needs and serve as a mechanism for community based planning and monitoring; as well ensuring accessibilities of health facilities at village level. For this LEADS conducted trainings on role and responsibility, preparation of participatory Village Health Action Plan and progressive utilization of untied fund by VHSNC. LEADS prepared Village Health Action Plan (VHAP) with support of VHSNC members and submitted at block to district level authorities resulting in allotment of 15 new Anganwadi Centres (also known as AWCs and ICDS centers) in their intervention villages.
Vaccination of Mother and Child
Immunization, typically by the administration of a vaccine, stimulates the body’s own immune system to protect the person against subsequent infection or disease. It is a proven tool for controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious diseases and is estimated to avert between 2 and 3 million deaths each year. LEADS identifies it as one of the most cost-effective health investments, with proven strategies that make it accessible to even the most hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations. It has clearly defined target groups; it can be delivered effectively through outreach activities.
India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) provide free vaccines against 11 life threatening diseases – Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis B, Pneumonia and Meningitis due to Haemophilus Influenzae type b (HIB), Measles, Rubella, Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Rotavirus diarrhoea. (Rubella, JE and Rotavirus vaccine in select states and districts)
LEADS has developed a tool for the purpose of monitoring and supervision of Village Health and Nutrition Day, that is organised at 350 Anganwadi Centres(ICDS Centers) to ensure availability of each and every services for maternal and child health. LEADS promotes VHSNC to support in organizing VHND every month in the village. We also ensure that the whole village actively participates in the event, so that proper immunization of children and pregnant women is regularised. We facilitate early detection of malnourished children in the community and refer to the nearest Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) as well as follow up for sustained outcome. Till now total 156 children have been referred to Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) and subsequently they have been benefited. We also supervise the functioning of Anganwadi Centres in the villages and facilitate its proper working so that it contributes towards improving nutritional status of women and children.
Health Camps
In order to address the healthcare needs of the underprivileged population, LEADS has organized health camps in different district of Jharkhand. The intervention seeks to address problems of mobility, accessibility and availability of primary health care with a special focus on children and women in the urban slums and villages of the state. One of such intervention was a mobile medical unit called ‘Smile on Wheels’ in which team constituting of Project Coordinator, Doctor, Nurse, Pharmacist, Driver and a Community Mobilizer made the health care facility available at the doorstep of the community. General Diseases (fever, cough and cold), blood pressure and diabetes, eye infection, weakness, itching, antenatal care (ANC), gastroenteritis, hypertension, body pain and skin diseases are the top ten diseases in the descending order which are being treated through these health drives. In addition to these, LEADs conducts regular community awareness sessions on vital issues pertaining to child, mother and family health.
LEADS has been organizing Health Camp in urban slums as well as villages since many years in District of Ranchi, Khunti, Ramgarh, Latehar& West Singhbhum of Jharkhand. More than 7000 people have been benefited through this programme. Under these interventions, health services such as free check up and medicine from three days to one month as per doctors advice was provided to the patients. LEADS also facilitates heath awareness sessions at frequent intervals on issues like nutrition and personal hygiene, especially for women and children. The organisation works to promote preventive measure among the community so that they are conscious about their health and are empowered to take benefits from the health facilities provided by the government.
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