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BASIC HOLISTIC
HEALTH COMMUNITY PROGRAMME Supported By SIMAVI, The Netherlands
[1993-1994]
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The Goodwill
Social Work Centre launched the, “BASIC HOLISTIC HEALTH
COMMUNITY PROGRAMME”, in Narikudi Block, Kamarajar District,
South India. The target area covered 20 villages in the Narikudi
Block and the project catered to the basic health needs of
children, women and farmers. The Project was formally
inaugurated on 23rd November 1993. Dr. (Mrs) R. Taj, Founding
Lady Medical Officer, Taj Clinic (NGO), Madurai inaugurated the
project and declared open the Community Health Centre by
lighting a lamp to mark the inauguration of the programme in the
villages. Prof (Dr) J. Christopher Daniel, Project Holder and
Executive Director, Goodwill Social Work Centre Welcomed the
gathering. Mr. Kulasekaran, M.B.A, Administrative Manager,
Meenakshi Mission Hospital, Madurai, Dr. C. Ramasubramanian,
Psychiatrist, Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai and Dr. (Mrs)
Taj, Taj Clinic, Madurai offered felicitations. Participants of
the inaugural function included local women and men,
representatives from Governmental and Non-Governmental agencies
in Madurai and Kamarajar Districts.
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In the initial
phase of the project, Village Health Committees were formed
which met once a week and discussed health related issues. These
committees were consulted for organising Health and Medicare
programmes by the organizers. Regular meetings for the committee
members were arranged with the health personnel of the projects.
A Health Advisory Committee comprising 20 Medical Specialists,
Health Workers, Medical Social Workers from Governmental and
Non-Governmental Health Institutions was constituted. This
Advisory Committee which met once in three months provided
health consultancy and provided referral and follow up services
for the villagers.
The Goodwill Health Personnel team comprised One Medical Doctor,
Two Women ANMs and One Male Field Staff and One Health Animator
in each targeted village. The Doctor attended on the patients
regularly and provides appropriate treatment to them. Further,
referral was also made to the patients to specialist hospitals.
The job duties of ANMs included
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1. |
To Organise medical check up
camps regularly, especially for pregnant women, neo-natal
and post-natal women and children |
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2. |
To assist in medical examination for the patients |
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3. |
To assist and advice Village Health Workers of select
villages as to health and medicare |
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4. |
To Detect, diagnose and treat common ailments in the
villages |
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5. |
To dispense medicines in consultation with the Doctor |
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6. |
To maintain health Records and Registers |
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7. |
To Organise health training for Village Health Workers and
village mothers at the field office.
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The job
description of the Village Health Workers included
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1. |
To pay regular home visits and dispense first aid to ailing
patients |
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2. |
To refer ailing patients to the health centre |
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3. |
To impart health education to
villagers on the prevention and management of diseases and
on the better benefits of home remedies |
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4. |
To organize School Health Programmes with the support of
Goodwill Health Personnel. |
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The Health
Care Centre was equipped with medicines, modern equipments,
accessories and furniture. First Aid Kits were supplied to
the Village Health Workers who were trained to administer
first aid. The residence of each Village Health Worker
functioned as a peripheral centre which met the medical
needs of the villagers. It is evident from the health
records that on an average 775 patients were treated in the
centre in a month.
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The following
health records and registers were maintained regularly in the
health centre.
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1. |
Medical History Portfolio |
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2. |
Treatment Referral Card |
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3. |
Individual Family Card |
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4. |
Identity Card |
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5. |
Pregnant Mother Card |
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6. |
Card for Eligible Couples for Family Planning |
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7. |
Child Card |
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8. |
Monthly Survey Register/Report |
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9. |
Village Living Conditions Identifications Survey Record |
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10. |
Drug Prescription Sheet.
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Health
Orientations training programmes for the Village Health
Workers and Field Staff were organised by the centre. The
Orientation programmes for the participants covered major
health related issues such as Nutrition, Mother and Child
care, First-aid, Water, Personal, Social, and Environmental
hygiene, Family welfare,
etc. The Health Workers (Animators) were imparted training
on ‘First Aid Services’ and the use of First Aid Kits.
Refresher Courses as health care were arranged for the
project staff every month. They were also given training on
the applications of health communications namely, puppet
shows, street theatres, role plays, dramas, skits, visual
aids, etc.The Village Health Animators, activities included
submission of daily activities report, and weekly plans to
the Chief Functionary of the Goodwill Centre. Monthly
review, evaluation and planning meetings were held
regularly.
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Health Education: The
Centre’s prime concern was to educate our beneficiaries on
the various aspects of health care and services, hygiene and
sanitation and disease prevention. Health education was
given paramount importance so that with the passage of time,
people could protect themselves from communicable diseases,
lead a clean and hygienic life and healthy living. The
centre formed Basic Holistic Health Community groups in all
our target villages. Fifty three groups were formed in the
villages, with an enrollment of 1080 women members. Our
Health Education staff imparted knowledge and information on
health issues, regularly to these group members. Health
education programmes, Media intervention programme and
Health training were organised to the members once in a
month.
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Apart from
this, health education classes were also conducted for the
children. The Centre established Environmental Education
Centres in our target villages and these centres were
utilized for conducting the health education classes.
Children from 10 villages were given health education every
weekend. It is reported that 980 children were benefitted
from these weekly health education classes. Further, once in
a month an Evaluation meeting was conducted for these
children.
It was found that media intervention was a very effective
method for reaching out to the people. Puppet shows, street
theatres, film show etc were group discussions, community
meetings and child-to-child programmes were organised the
children actively participated in these programmes
The Centre also organised film shows, slide shows, street
theatre, skits, role plays, dramas etc for the women, youth
club members, farmers’ forum members and the general public
at regular intervals. Media intervention attracted the
villagers and thereby they were sensitized to important
issues on health.
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The Centre
also prepared a booklet covering various health themes which
was translated in the vernacular and distributed to the
villagers. The Centre succeeded in kindling the interest of
the people through its health education programmes. It
carried out its activities based on a monthly plan of
action. Our village health centre was equipped with the
following the medical equipments Electrical Sterilizer 12”,
Basin (Small &Big), Basin Stand, Tongue Depressor,
Stethoscope Microtone, Sphygmomanometer, B.P. Apparatus,
Scissors, Artery Forceps, Syringe, Needles, Gloves, etc.,
Infant Mucus Extractor, Suction Apparatus Electronic make,
Oxygen Cylinder, Clinical thermometer, Metal catheter
(Male/Female), Examination Table, Forceps, Drip Stand,
Cotton, Bandages, Plasters, etc., Others items included
refrigerator, Fan, Stove, Heater, Bench, Steel Cupboard,
Chair, Stool, One Motor Cycle and a Jeep.
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