Back in good health

The success of a village health centre shows how public participation and awareness can work wonders

The primary health centre PHC at Chandankheda, a village in Chandrapur district, Maharashtra, stands out, having got a fresh coat of green paint. From a dank, cobweb-ridden structure with leaky roofs to being the most favoured healthcare destination in these parts8212;the Chandankheda PHC has come a long way.

Two years ago, villagers, angry at the lack of infrastructure and facilities at the PHC, forced a shutdown. They had had to travel 25 km to the tehsil healthcare centre at Bhadravati or to the Chandrapur district centre, 52 km away. That was when health officials and NGOs in the area sat up.

Today, the health centre has 10 beds, one operation theatre, two medical officers and supporting staff. It has managed to increase the percentage of deliveries at hospitals and institutions from 20 to 70 and successfully implemented family planning programmes.

All this became possible with the involvement of villagers in a 8216;micro-planning8217; programme initiated by UNICEF. As part of the programme8212;spread across 142 blocks in 25 districts in the state8212;8,000 young volunteers were trained to spread awareness about health and nutrition in villages.

8220;When villagers forced the PHC shut two years ago, we did a survey of what they needed and why they felt healthcare wasn8217;t up to the mark. Since then, we have been able to ensure people8217;s participation,8221; said Dr R.V. Bansod, former PHC in-charge and now taluka medical officer. 8220;We roped in a local NGO which was already doing good work in the village. Under the National Rural Health Mission8217;s micro-planning and with UNICEF support, we realised we could do a lot more to improve facilities.8221;

The Chandankheda PHC caters to a population of 18,550 across 28 villages. Four youth from each village were selected to participate in training programmes at the PHC. 8220;We got together some youngsters and got them involved in cleaning up the village. We got them to understand that diseases were spreading because of poor sanitation and hygiene,8221; said Ravindra Jivbode of Pevra village.

In 2006, 14 malnourished children were admitted to the PHC. Within a week of care and proper nutrition, the condition of seven children improved. Since then, the PHC has helped reduce malnutrition significantly.

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One of the volunteers, Jyoti Kakade of Asti village, now ensures that women in her village weigh their children and keep a check on malnutrition and hygiene in the village.

8220;We have also convinced women that there will be a doctor at the PHC who can help them in delivering babies safely. We are spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS and villagers are beginnin to speak about it openly,8221; said Kakade.

8220;This is social transformation8212;taking the national goals to lower levels, where people start monitoring themselves,8221; said Gopi Menon, UNICEF national chief. 8220;It involved a partnership between the government and youth groups, facilitated by NGOs. This has shown the way for sustaining this kind of success story,8221; he said.