This programme aims to increase health awareness with the goal of improved health and wellbeing of underprivileged families. It gives special focus on under-5 children, pregnant women, lactating mothers and adolescent girls regarding safe motherhood, child nutrition, personal hygiene and sanitation issues.
Under this initiative, health volunteers are developed by selecting interested women from the villages and providing them adequate training. These health volunteers are called Swasthya Sahayika (SS) who work in the villages to impart health education through regular health forums and household visits under the guidance of health staff members. The volunteers distribute health kits at the doorstep, comprising commonly used medicines. They also provide linkage/referral services.
The health initiatives that are undertaken by this programme are –
BHP 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 health seeking behaviour. The results of Bandhan-Konnagar’s sustained efforts are remarkable, as reflected in institutional delivery (91%), completion of antenatal care (ANC) (92%) and child immunisation (96%) achievements. These statistics rank better than the national and state level data (National Family Health Survey-4). The services of the volunteers were found to be very effective in bringing about healthy habits among the communities.
This programme works in line with Sustainable Development Goal-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).
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
