Bandhan Health Programme (BHP) seeks to support communities comprehend and act together to reduce the burden of malnutrition and maternal, infant and new born health related vulnerabilities in remote and backward rural areas of the country. The programme targets better health seeking behaviour among women, male spouse and care givers and seek services of government health care facilities and schemes. There is evidence which shows that through this programme, women are now increasingly adopting health services and also there is considerable decrease in out of pocket expenses towards health care at the household level due to reduction in disease burden.
This programme aims to increase health awareness with the goal of improved health and wellbeing of underprivileged families. Better awareness helps reduce healthcare expenditure of these families. The programme lays special emphasis on children under 5 years of age, pregnant women, lactating mothers and adolescent girls. The areas of focus are safe motherhood, child nutrition, personal hygiene and water & sanitation issues. Under this initiative, interested women from villages are selected and provided adequate training to develop them into health volunteers, who are referred to as Swasthya Sahayika.
This programme works in line with Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages) and Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all).
The core aspect of the health programme includes health education, which is imparted through health forums and doorstep counselling by the Swasthya Sahayika and staff members of health programme. The Swasthya Sahayika distribute at the doorstep health kit comprising of commonly used medicines, antiseptic solutions, sanitary napkins, among others. The programme also provides linkage and referral services like institutional delivery, immunization, ANC etc. for easy accessibility of Government healthcare schemes.
This intervention addresses the challenge of poor understanding of healthcare needs that often prevent rural women from seeking or utilising available health services. The team works closely with families to make a real and lasting change in their behaviour. Evidence has shown that through this programme, women are now increasingly adopting health services, thereby improving their lives and the well-being of their children.
This health intervention also includes setting up of water treatment plants to provide safe drinking water to the community at low cost. At the end of the financial year 2020-21, the total number of water treatment plants stands at 60.
Various health initiatives undertaken by the programme include:
Programme: BHP
Date: January 22, 2020
Visitor Details: Mr. John Alex, ED & CEO, Equitas Small Finance Bank and Dr. CR Gariyali, IAS (Retd.), Former Principal Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and Founder Trustee, Equitas Development Trust
Branch: North 24 Parganas
