Improved Maternal & Child Care in the Himalayas

HEALTH SECTOR UPDATE

The Health sector updates for the period January till June, 2016 are below.This is the community health project in Okhalkanda Block supported largely the Tata Trusts and is partly supported by Aarohi Schweiz particularly for the Mobile Medical Unit. Report is presented comprehensively. Total current population in the block is 54, 590.

Maternal Health

Antenatal care services: Early registration of pregnancies has risen to 86.4% which was 45.9% in 2013.Proportion of pregnant women received 4 ANC has reached to 56.3% from 5.4% in 2013.

Postnatal care coverage: Postnatal coverage has increased to 45%, which means 45% of women received postnatal care within 48 hours after delivery. (Postnatal coverage: proportion of women received postnatal care within 48 hours after delivery). 70.2% women received postnatal care this is also an achievement since it was only 34.3% in 2013.

Anaemia during pregnancy: According to annual survey conducted in January revealed that 48.7% pregnant women were aneamic during pregnancy, severely anaemic women were referred to higher centers for treatment and moderately anaemic women were given iron folic acid supplementation and dietary advice.

Referral and management of complication:High risk pregnancies are being identified by ASHAs in the villages and in June 61.5% of such womenwere referred to health facilities for treatment of complicated pregnancies. Referral and treatment of high risk pregnancies was only 34.6% in 2013, it reflects knowledge of ASHAs to identify high risk pregnancies has improved and community is also aware of possible complications.

CHILD HEALTH

• 92% children received complete primary immunization as compared to 66% in 2013.
• Incidence of diarrhea has fallen to 1.1% from 40% in 2013; this can be attributed to awareness on hygiene and early identification and management of diarrheal diseases.
• Total 76 schools are covered in 105 villages under school health programme, school health session includes raising awareness on personal hygiene, environmental hygiene, domestic hygiene and prevention and domestic management of acute diarrheal diseases.

VITAL EVENTS

13 infant deaths were reported in which 7 were early neonatal and 3 late neonatal and 3 infant deaths.

Community Awareness and Mobilization

Community meetings like the Mothers’ group meeting and general awareness camps are more interesting now with projection of health videos. It has increased the number of participants - doubled in numbers. We started organizing a village health fair in which large numbers of people are made aware on selected themes by role plays and games. Last month we organized 3 health fairs and our theme was safe drinking water and waste disposal.

CASE STUDY: Continuous effort could change the behavior

Tulsi, aged 27 years was 4^thgravida. She and her family were reluctant for antenatal check up (ANC) and tetanus toxoid (TT) injection. Aarohi supervisor counselled her family for ANC and after hard work of 2 months she was able to convince Tulsidevi and her husband for ANC. At 6 months of gestational period she received first ANC and was given her first TT vaccine. She and her family were counselled for institutional delivery but she delivered a baby in home and delivery was conducted by Aarohi trained TBA. Soon after delivery Tulsi bled heavily, as Tulsi and other family member were made aware of postpartum complications by regular ANC visits so family called Aarohi supervisor and ASHA. AHSA immediately reached there and called 108 ambulance. That day ambulance was not available so family booked a private car and she was taken to PHC Okhalakanda, but case could not be managed in PHC so she was referred to tertiary care hospital, Haldwani where she received 2 units of blood. Now mother and baby both are fine.