CRHP Project Villages

Report from Wadgaon Tanpura

There were many beginnings in the first 3 weeks of September. The CRHP Mobile Health Team and Clinic started their bi-weekly visits to Wadgaon Tanpura and the two selected VHWs completed two weeks of intensive training. The first two visits of the MHT/C brought many in the community together to discuss health and development needs. The Clinic saw on average 25 patients at each visit, some have not seen a doctor in many months. We are seeing a variety of conditions that range from vitamin deficiency and diabetes for the elderly to a child's heart condition that require surgery.

At each visit the team works with the village leaders to practice conducting social mapping of each household in the respective hamlet (there are 4 hamlets in this village). This information records members of each household providing demographic knowledge that will inform decision-making. The layout of a village tells us a lot about the power structure and dynamics of communities. This is also a great way for the village leadership to learn more about their community.

Due to the distance of Wadgaon Tanpura (over 1 hour drive), the team leaves the CRHP campus at 8:30am and returns at 4pm, making sure to bring lunch with us. The village leadership continues to be extremely supportive, welcoming us to their homes with offerings of tea and food.

This is the first week of post-training for the new VHWs. Both are excited about how they can bring their new knowledge to help their community. They will both be assigned a senior VHW from another village to mentor them as they start the most difficult aspect of their work: community mobilization.

Please visit our facebook page for more images of VHW training:

http://www.facebook.com/CRHP.India