PROJECT:

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Mobile Health Clinic (Dr. Hedgewar Arogya Rath)

Mobile Health Clinic (Dr. Hedgewar Arogya Rath) (Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Uttarakhand and National Rural Health Mission “NRHM”) (2009-2011)

The determinants of health care delivery in Uttarakhand, small-sized and scattered villages (hamlets/ majras) with dispersed populations, challenging geographical terrain, poor road connectivity, poor access to transport etc. required that the state adapt the NRHM guidelines in accordance with the local need and socio-epidemiological parameters. The state health policy too did not take cognizance of the sparsely populated, scattered, mountain ‘hamlets’ or ‘Majras’ and linking these with services; also, norms laid down by the government did not consider such population settlements while defining an ‘urban’ area. The census definition for an urban area in hill setting is inappropriate.

In view of this perspective and particularly severe limitation of  conventional ‘fixed-location’ healthcare facilities by inaccessibility due to adverse topographical conditions, ‘Mobile Health Clinic’ was initiated to supplement the existing public health facilities with the aim of providing minimum basic primary health care services to the community living in  far-flung, difficult outreaches. Also, pressure on the health workforce has emerged in areas listed below:

  • Growing burden of chronic diseases including HIV/AIDS, with continuous and community based care.
  • Additions in programs and strategic changes do not match with the skills of the workforce.
  • Shortage of workforce resulted in multi tasking due to which primary responsibilities are compromised.
  • Lack of resources to address disease burden.

Coverage:

In view of the above, Mother NGO (IMPART) for the district of Udham Singh Nagar proposes  coverage of three disadvantaged blocks, namely,  Khatima, Sitarganj and Rudrapur  by Mobile Health Clinic (Aarogya rath).

Objectives:

  • To provide basic health education & community based sensitization towards preventive & promotive health & hygiene to all community beneficiaries & stake holders through appropriate BCC.
  • To provide quality diagnostic & curative care through mobile health clinics at outreaches of District Udham Singh Nagarof Uttarakhand State.
  • To enhance utilization of services and health seeking behavior of un-served /underserved population of Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand.
  • To positively effect impact indicators of health in the district of Udham Singh Nagar.
  • To play a role in formulation and execution of viable health care services system in remote areas serving especially underprivileged and economically backward people.
  • To establish linkages with existing/ parallel health delivery approaches by the public health system including EMRI (108) for resource optimization and effective service delivery.
  • To ensure community ownership and participation in prevention of diseases and improvement of health of people

Service Profile:

Following services are proposed to be provided through ‘fix day-, fixed location’ Mobile Health Clinics:

  • Preventive: Immunization, ante Natal Care & Post Natal care.
  • Diagnostic: Minimal Investigation facilities like Hemoglobin, urine Examination for Sugar etc. in addition, smear for Malaria can be collected for examination in the concerned PHC. Other diseases like Leprosy, Tuberculosis and locally endemic disease will be detected and referred.
  • Curative: Treatment of minor ailments, early detection of cases, etc.
  • Referral: Appropriate referral of cases needing specialist care.

 

Functions:

  • Diagnostic Facilities – X-Ray, & ENT and gynecological check up etc.
  • Curative Health Care – On the spot dispending medicines for the common ailments and referral to hospital for other cases.
  • Research – Developing a health profile (such as depicting the distribution of health and disease) and analysis of the health issues in rural areas. The health profile will include age, gender, caste, class and location specific data besides creating a general profile of the health status.
  • Education and Awareness Programs – To raise awareness about preventive health care issues including family planning, communicable and other disease etc. using the expertise of IMPART.

Team:  Medical officer, Program Coordinator, Pharmacyst/Staff Nurse/ANM, Radiographer / X-Ray Technician, Accountant, Laboratory Technician, Driver, Helper.

IMPART conducted 268 health camps in three blocks and provided free health check-up and medicine to 3323 adult male, 6836 female, 742 adolescence male, 856 female, 1310 children male and 1118 female. Pregnant women identified -26, hemoglobin tested -1808, Albumin-263, sugar-457, malaria parasite-45, widal-290, ESR-465, BSR-623, blood group-58, x-ray-663, OCP distributed 455 strips, condom distributed- 3127packets, pregnant and lactating mothers motivated for immunization.

IMPART conducted 268 health camps in three blocks and provided free health check-up and medicine to 3323 adult male, 6836 female, 742 adolescence male, 856 female, 1310 children male and 1118 female. Pregnant women identified -26, hemoglobin tested -1808, Albumin- 263, sugar-457, malaria parasite-45, widal-290, ESR-465, BSR-623, blood group-58, x-ray- 663, OCP distributed 455 strips, condom distributed- 3127packets, pregnant and lactating mothers motivated for immunization.