Community health Programme in Sundarban

‘Sabuj Sangha’ continued reaching out to the most deprived communities with various support activities in deep Sunderbans and beyond who are still deprived of the basic amenities a man require to live a life of dignity- Education, Employment and Health. Community Health Programme of Sabuj Sangha is one such activity that helps the deprived, unreached ailing live a healthier life.

The Community Health Programme caters its services in various ways. With enriching experience of more than two decades in the community Health sector the organisation has a band of robust and professional health personnel inclusive of Experienced and Young Doctors in multiple specialties, Nurses, Pathologists, Community Health Workers etc.

With the support from the Community for whom the organisation working since more than four decades has its own Rural Health Centre namely ‘Swarnalata Sabuj Seva Sadan’ located in the remote village Nandakumarpur under Mathurapur II administrative block of South 24 Parganas district. Also various establishments of the organisation across Sunderbans and the regular outreach camps are organized in deep remote locations in the vastly spread Sunderbans under Mathurapur II and Patharpratima blocks.

Ever since the Bulbul cyclone hit the vast areas of Namkhana, Mathurapur II and Patharpratima blocks on 9^th November, 2019 the robust health team started reaching out the impacted communities under the mentioned blocks.

Health care service through OPD at Rural Health Care Unit – ‘Swarnalata Sabuj Seva Sadan’

OPD clinics at ‘Swarnalata Sabuj Seva Sadan’ remained operational and treatment including diagnostic services continued during December, 2019. The trend diseases observed during the month was common cough & cold, fever, eye related problem, gastroenteritis, hypertension, ache in bone joints, complications due to high sugar, respiratory trouble, abdominal pain, skin infection etc. During December, 2019 total 590 patients received health care facilities.  

Diagnostic cares provided:

• Pathology: 126, 
• ECG: 15, 
• USG: 64 and
• X-Ray: 36

Health care services through IPD

Through IPD general patients as well as patients through Govt. Health schemes were treated and institutional deliveries conducted. During December-2019, the number of persons provided health care in IPD through RHTC are as follows:

• IPD Delivery: 1
• Others: 7

Health services through Outreach Health Camp

Health checkup & treatment facility with medicinal support & diagnostic care through outreach camps were provided to people, which benefitted people to a large extent. It has been noticed that; the people are gradually being conscious to take care of their health and as such, patient’s flow increased. The type of diseases treated was same as mentioned under OPD services. During December, 2019 - 987 patients were treated through outreach camps.

Case Story

Adolescent girls are one of the focal areas of intervention of Sabuj Sangha in combating anemia among women.

Rina Mandal is one of such example who was gradually getting anemic. Her case story speaks on the consistent interventions made by the Health Team of Sabuj Sangha which turned out to be fruitful for long run.

Young girl of 14 Years Rina Mandal* hails from remote Herambagopalpur village under Patharpratima Block in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. She lives with her father Ramakanta Mandal* and mother Sunayana Mandal*. The main source of their livelihood is cultivation of Beetle- Vine.

Rina studies in 10^th standard at the Dakshin Kashinagar Higher Secondary School. During visiting the families in the village the Sabuj Sangha Community Health Worker (CHW)  found her as malnourished. Consequently the health worker visited her home and advised the parents to send their daughter Rina to the next Adolescent Girls’ Meeting organized by Sabuj Sangha Health Team at a close location to their house.

At visit and after basic health checkup Rina was advised to change her food habit and start eating green vegetables and foods enriched with iron. Consequently on July, 2019, she went to another Camp for Adolescent Girls. At testing her hemoglobin level was found to be at 8.6gm/dl with 36 Kgs Body Weight.  She was disturbed with lack of concentration in studies and week feeling.

She was advised to visit Doctor’s camp of Sabuj Sangha as well. Initially she ignored the advice and didn’t go to consult Doctor. Gradually with time she started following the instruction of the health worker and started eating green vegetables-leaves, fruits and other healthy food items. Thus now, her hemoglobin rose up to 10.8 gm/dl.  

Rina don’t feel tired or weak any more. Thus her level of confidence enhanced also. Her family members are happy with the change that happened with interventions by Sabuj Sangha health team.

Now Rina has started spreading the message of advantages of eating green and healthy foods in the community and her friends.

Thus the development in Rina’s health shows that anemia can be cured at home without supplementary hematinic following proper advice and taking healthy foods.

* Names of all individuals altered to maintain safety and privacy.

Community Health Programme of Sabuj Sangha in remote and deep Sunderbans continued at its mission to reach out the unreached who are struggling for basic amenity access and better living, through their health services rendered by means of outreach camps and services at Rural Health Centre name Swarnalata Sabuj Seva Sadan located in the remote village Nandakumarpur under Mathurapur II administrative block of South 24 Parganas district.

Bitten with the financial steepness and located at deep remote corners the people of the deep Sunderbans are deprived of the basic essential amenities of Education, Employment and Health. Thus the people of deep Sunderbans villages were in habits to avail unscientific and unhygienic remedial methods- like going to the local quacks or to avail magical practices through exorcisers etc.

With the Community Health Services of Sabuj Sangha reaching at their vicinity these poverty stricken people are now relieved of their pains, who remained compelled to tolerate since ages.

Various establishments of the organisation across Sunderbans and the robust team of the Community Health Programme thus remained catalyst in extending health services to the vastly spread remote areas. The team comprises of trained medical professionals including Experienced Doctors, Nurses, Pathologists, Community Health Workers etc.

Health care service through OPD at Rural Health Care Unit – Swarnalata Sabuj Seva Sadan

OPD clinics were operational and treatment including diagnostic services through the rural health care unit ‘Swarnalata Sabuj Seva Sadan’ continued during November, 2019. Various disease trend observed during the month was common cough & cold, fever, eye related problem, gastroenteritis, hypertension, ache in bone joints, complications due to high sugar, respiratory trouble, abdomen pain, skin infection etc. During November, 2019 total 719 patients received health care facilities.  

Diagnostic cares provided:

• Pathology: 173, 
• ECG: 11, 
• USG: 48 and
• X-Ray: 29

Health care services through IPD

Through IPD general patients as well as patients through Govt. Health schemes were treated and institutional deliveries conducted. During November-2019, the number of persons provided health care in IPD through RHTC are as follows:

• Eye Operations: 6
• Others: 11 

Health services through Outreach Health Camp

Health checkup & treatment facility with medicinal support & diagnostic care through outreach camps were provided to people, which benefitted people to a large extent. It has been noticed that; the people are gradually being conscious to take care of their health and as such, patient’s flow increased. The type of diseases treated was same as mentioned under OPD services. During November, 2019 - 818 patients were treated through outreach camps.

Case Story

Little Riddhiman of 2 years 10 months was facing a difficult growth problem. He has born on 8.03.2017. His father runs an electrical goods shop in the village which is the only source of livelihood for the entire family. Riddhiman weighed 3.3KGs at birth.

Eventually with time it is noticed that his body weight is not increasing as a normal baby supposed to grow. When he turns 6 months, he started suffering from skin problems. His face gradually started getting covered with various marks.  He started suffering by Allergy and Flu-cold etc.

With his parent started consulting with a few pediatricians he somehow became cured temporarily.

But the problem resumed recurrently. Gradually while visiting the houses nearby it caught the attention of a Sabuj Sangha health supervisor. On her insistence Riddhiman’s mother took the kid to the Doctor at the Sabuj Sangha health outreach Camp in remote Achintyanagar village.  

Thus she started visiting regularly to see the Doctor at Swarnalata Sabuj Seva Sadan – The rural health centre run by Sabuj Sangha. Gradually at following all instructions and advices and medication without missing the Kid is now almost cured. The mother is at relief at feels deeply indebted to Sabuj Sangha Health Services. Thus with strong trust built within all their family members are now coming to visit the Health Centre at any of their needs.

Riddhiman’s mother now trusts to bring her child whenever she feels – even during trivial health issues she feels.

Thus the Community Health Programme in deep Sunderbans has now become an integral part of the lives of people live here.

We convey our deep gratitude to all our supporters who render their unconditional support in improving the lives of ailing people in deep remote Sunderbans.

Please continue with your open hearted support and tell others to support so that we can achieve our greater mission at reaching all the outreached people of deep remote Sunderbans.

* Names of all individuals altered to maintain safety and privacy.