Hygiene and basic health are imperative to the progress of any community. Limited accessibility to quality healthcare compounded by a lack of awareness, long-established superstitions, and social stigmas associated with certain diseases is often the cause of poor health in underprivilege communities. In response, the MS health program focuses on promoting prevention through awareness initiatives combined with providing a range of medical treatments. This program benefits more than 39,300 low-income families every year. The following are just a few of the various health initiatives currently undertaken by MS. We also have projects aimed at women’s health, pediatric care, eyecare, senior care and more.
Arogya Kendra Community Clinic
Our Community Health Clinic, situated next to Manav Jatan, has been running since 2005 to provide families access to affordable, quality healthcare and medications. Though simple, our clinic is updated with modern medical instruments. Treatment is provided for children suffering from worms and parasites, skin disease, low immunity, fever, and cold and adults with respiratory ailments, vomiting and diarrhea, fever, arthritis, tuberculosis, and various skin diseases. For more severe problems we refer patients to partner physicians and hospitals.
Life-saving Treatment and Surgery Support
Through health camps and while surveying the communities, our health workers identify patients with severe health ailments such as cancer, kidney disease, heart problems, gynecological issues and cataracts. They then take the patients to government hospitals or partner doctors to get proper testing, diagnosis and follow up. Many of these cases are critical, and without timely intervention would be fatal. Therefore, our health workers provide support through the entire process to ensure proper recovery. We also help subsidize medical expenses on a case-by-case basis and help patients access government schemes to help cover costs. MS supports more than 5000 people through this initiative every year.
Treating Malnourished Children
MS has partnered with Health and Care Foundation to battle malnourishment in children and decrease infant mortality rates. We identify at-risk children from our Anganwadis and take them and their guardian to the Health and Care Hospital for further diagnosis. If required, the child goes through 14 days of government-suggested treatment, followed by three more doctor consultations.
Health Camps
We hold regular health camps in the communities to screen and diagnose acute illnesses, offer treatment when possible and identify patients who require specialists or hospital care. These camps also raise community awareness around self-care and health. Throughout the year MS organizes 50+ medical camps across community centers, targeting general health, eyecare, tuberculosis, diabetes, women’s health, pediatrics, dental care, cancer, HIV and more.
Awareness Campaigns
Until people are empowered with the proper knowledge behind common health problems, they do not have the tools to prevent or identify the ailments. To create awareness, our health workers carry out campaigns around monthly themes. They visit each household to provide families with relevant information and preventative actions to stay healthy while also answering their questions and concerns. Topics are based on community needs, such as mosquito-borne diseases, HIV, women’s health, tuberculosis and thalassemia. We also organize a series of events throughout the year at our centers, which include guest speakers, film screenings and presentations. Furthermore, we include important health topics as part of our holistic education program.
Treating Malnourished Children
MS has partnered with Health and Care Foundation to battle malnourishment in children and decrease infant mortality rates. We identify at-risk children from our Anganwadis and take them and their guardian to the Health and Care Hospital for further diagnosis. If required, the child goes through 14 days of government-suggested treatment, followed by three more doctor consultations.
Vaccination Program
Through our Anganwadis, in collaboration with the government, more than 4900 children between ages 0-5 are vaccinated annually through this program to protect them from hepatitis, tetanus, polio, diphtheria, MMR, chicken pox and more. Anganwadi workers register newborn babies and pending immunizations as well as going door to door to spread awareness across their localities. As a result, families are increasingly taking advantage of the vaccination camps that are organized every month.
Improving Low Hb in Adolescent Girls
Through the Hope adolescent girls’ program run by the Anganwadi, we also take 40 girls weekly to the Health and Care hospital to conduct basic checkups and blood tests. Any girl with low hemoglobin (Hb) is given treatment until it normalizes. Low Hb and the resulting anemia are common problems for marginalized adolescent girls, strongly impacting their overall health, education and quality of life.
