In collaboration with MISEREOR, SWAD introduced a right based approach to health care of “Community Health Promotion Program in Seven Gram Panchayats of Mohana Block, Gajapati District, Odisha” in 106 villages of 7 Gram Panchayats of Mohana Block, Gajapati District in Odisha, India since 2016. SWAD believes in a healthy community that can build a healthy nation. Out of eight southern districts of Odisha SWAD works with, it is seen that there is a less access to health. This health initiative works with the people who live in hill slopes and tops where resources are limited. Poverty and illiteracy have a direct bearing upon the health condition of the people. Poor sanitation facilities, open defecation, living together with domesticated animals, poor waste disposal practices, lack of potable water aggravate the overall health condition of the people. Moreover, the project is implemented in the area where there is endemic to malaria, sickle cell anemia, tuberculosis, skin diseases. Seasonal migration to metropolitan cities in search of jobs and practice of unsafe sex has also introduced sexually transmitted diseases i.e. HIV-AIDS among a certain percentage of the people.
Outcomes/Achievements of the Project:
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The project through regular capacity building and strengthening, managed the health care and food security concerns in 66 VHCs, 69 VDCs/GKSs, 55 SMCs and 387 SHGs.
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The project was able to impact by sensitizing adolescent girls in the focused area about the protection issues and facilitating them to remain healthy both in body and mind through sensitization activities based on the issues related to adolescent behaviour, sex education and HIV AIDS. As a result, 1380 adolescents were sensitised on sex education to prevent the possible hazards and risk due to early marriage/pregnancy and unsafe-sex. Apart from that 1263 adolescents youth could know the unsafe migration & human trafficking that dangerous effect migrated labours.
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106 village communities of the focused area have increased their access to food security entitlements to keep themselves healthy. Villagers were trained on different food and right to work related schemes such as MGNREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), PDS (Public Distribution System), MDM (Mid Day Meal), ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services), RSBY (Rastrya Swastya Bhima Yojana). The intervention of Health Staff regularized the activities of the Anganwadi centers. Now villagers are trying to avail the benefits from different Government Schemes.
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The Health care facilitators of the project able to utilise their skills and knowledge to promote a right based approach to community health care in the project communities.
