Community health Programme in Sundarban

Sabuj Sangha is continuing community health programme (CHP) in the Sunderbans region since long with the objective of improving health status of the people through improved health care services and to ensure safe motherhood by providing optimum pregnancy care to all pregnant women. The operation areas covered are, 24 villages of four (4) Gram Panchayats of Mathurapur II and patharpratima blocks of South 24 Parganas district. The CHP has two major components i.e. community health and institutional health programmes. The interventions of community health are generating health awareness of people on several health issues including hygienic behavior, growing health habits (Health checkup & treatment of ailments by registered doctor) and community mobilization. The institutional health services include; OPD (general, eye, dental, gynecology, orthopedic, emergency care etc.), IPD (Eye & general), institutional delivery, child immunization, X-Ray, USG, Pharmacy, mobile health service, supplementary medicinal facility for malnourished pregnant women, surgery, referral services, ambulance facility etc. Sabuj Sangha has established one rural hospital and outreach health centres namely; Rural Health & Training Centre (RHTC) at Nandakumarpur, outreach centre (ORC) at Herambogopalpur and multipurpose community centres in other islands. The Government schemes like “Ayusmati” and “Community Delivery Centre (CDC)” being continued through RHTC & ORC since past and pregnant women receiving optimal pregnancy care including institutional delivery facility in these centres. There are experienced doctors, nurses, paramedics, trained health workers and other supportive staffs to deliver quality health services to community people. Besides; another prime area of concern is to involve Government stakeholders in health programme intervention. Sabuj Sangha created health infrastructure in Nandakumarpur as well as other three Gram Panchayats (GP) purposefully so that, people of all the operational locations can access institutional health services. It was also felt that; creation of infrastructure is not the only approach to improve health situation of people, but sensitization of people through community mobilization is equally important aspect.

Sabuj Sangha is continuing community health programme (CHP) in the Sunderbans region since long with the objective of improving health status of the people through improved health care services and to ensure safe motherhood by providing optimum pregnancy care to all pregnant women. The operation areas covered are, 24 villages of four (4) Gram Panchayats of Mathurapur II and patharpratima blocks of South 24 Parganas district. The CHP has two major components i.e. community health and institutional health programmes. The interventions of community health are generating health awareness of people on several health issues including hygienic behavior, growing health habits (Health checkup & treatment of ailments by registered doctor) and community mobilization. The institutional health services include; OPD (general, eye, dental, gynecology, orthopedic, emergency care etc.), IPD (Eye & general), institutional delivery, child immunization, X-Ray, USG, Pharmacy, mobile health service, supplementary medicinal facility for malnourished pregnant women, surgery, referral services, ambulance facility etc. Sabuj Sangha has established one rural hospital and outreach health centres namely; Rural Health & Training Centre (RHTC) at Nandakumarpur, outreach centre (ORC) at Herambogopalpur and multipurpose community centres in other islands. The Government schemes like “Ayusmati” and “Community Delivery Centre (CDC)” being continued through RHTC & ORC since past and pregnant women receiving optimal pregnancy care including institutional delivery facility in these centres. There are experienced doctors, nurses, paramedics, trained health workers and other supportive staffs to deliver quality health services to community people. Besides; another prime area of concern is to involve Government stakeholders in health programme intervention. Sabuj Sangha created health infrastructure in Nandakumarpur as well as other three Gram Panchayats (GP) purposefully so that, people of all the operational locations can access institutional health services. It was also felt that; creation of infrastructure is not the only approach to improve health situation of people, but sensitization of people through community mobilization is equally important aspect.

100% new born will be immunized

Iimmunization of children is done in the sub-centres jointly with the health workers of CHPS and Government health personnel (ANM & ASHA workers); the health workers of CHPS collect information and they keep records of child immunization in the immunization register. The new born in RHTC and ORC were vaccinated with polio & Hepatitis B zero doses at birth. The health team members of Sabuj Sangha, during the community level meetings campaign for child immunization and its importance so that every child can be prevented from seven killer diseases and survive with good health.  

Health care service through OPD at RHTC

OPD clinics were operational as usual during the month. People were provided health checkup and treatment including diagnostic services through RHTC. The disease trend observed during the reporting quarter was common cough & cold, fever, eye related problem, gastroenteritis, hypertension, ach in bone joints, complications due to high sugar, respiratory trouble, tuberculosis, loose motion, abdomen pain, skin infection etc. During March 2018 total 3070 patients received treatment facility through RHTC.  

Diagnostic cares provided through RHTC during March 2018 are; Pathology 109, ECG 15, USG 66, X-Ray 38

Health care services through IPD

Through IPD general patients as well as patients through Swastha Sathi and RSBY schemes were treated and institutional deliveries conducted. During March 2018, the numbers of persons provided health care in IPD through RHTC are as follows; Institutional delivery 10, Treatment through Swastha Sathi scheme 31, Treatment of general patients 4. 

Health services through Out Reach 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. Number of patients treated during March 2018 is 626.

“ ………. My name is Aloka, 39 year’s old living with my husband and one son in Herambagopalpur village under Patharpratima block of South 24 Parganas district. My husband Mr. Gobinda is a fisherman goes to deep sea for catching fish with other fishermen by trawler (Big mechanized boat) of other owner. He used to go for his job for fortnights or month and I had to manage all the household matters.

Since last ten years I was suffering from acute constipation, respiratory problem and feeling trouble while speaking loudly; also had continuous pain in my knees and heap joints. I knew about the health centres and services of Sabuj Sangha, but didn’t have faith on that. During acute situation I used to go to several quacks for relief. I took medicines as per the advice of quacks yet; days, moths and years passed away but I didn’t get myself cured. Moreover, amount of health expenditure was increasing over the years. At certain point of time I became totally upset, hopeless and psychologically depressed.

One day I shared my problems to the health worker of Sabuj Sangha casually, who was a resident of my village. Knowing all those she advised me to attend doctor at outreach camp but I didn’t. After two months she met with me again and asked, “Did you attend our doctor?” I said, “No”. She surprised and said, “Why are you neglecting your health? The outreach camp location is within your reach, there is qualified doctor and you know, many people are benefitting with treatment? Despite having treatment facility at your door step you are suffering from health trouble. ….. See Aloka, I am your neighbor, want to see you well and would suggest you again to attend doctor at outreach camp once”. In the meantime my husband came to home for seven days and I shared all these with him. He said, “You can try at least, there is no harm in it”.

After a few days I went to doctor at outreach camp, although I had least reliance about the treatment of such camp. The doctor listened about all my complications and troubles with patience, examined, prescribed medicine and advised for dos and don’ts. I don’t know why, but passionate behavior, his logics behind my trouble and suggestions impressed me and I started taking medicine. Within a fortnight I felt, I am getting relief and then again I attended doctor for further checkup and advice. After one month I found, my trouble of constipation and respiratory problems were gone away. My pain of knees and heap joints are minimized and I decided continuing treatment under the doctor. …. Now I realized, I have done a great mistake. It would have better if I could attend doctor of outreach camp earlier. I convey thanks to doctor as well as the health worker of Community health programme of Sabuj Sangha.”