Reproductive and child health rights (RCHR)
A workshop with adolescent girls
The main purpose of the RCHR programme is to reduce child mortality, reduce mother mortality, improve sex ratio and to improve community’s access to the health services offered by the government. The work in this project includes working closely with pregnant women, adolescent boys, adolescent girls, children as well as the whole community. Reproductive health implies satisfying and safe sex lives, capability to reproduce and ability to decide when and how often to do so. There are eight main issues on which this project is working, these are – safe childbirth, woman/man reproductive health, adolescent boys/girls reproductive health, reproductive rights, gender sensitisation, RTI/STI, HIV-AIDS and family planning. Rajasthan is characterised by low levels of human development including high infant mortality rate (IMR) and mother mortality rate (MMR). There are also significant social and cultural barriers due to which particularly women and girls are reluctant to seek medical attention.
Manthan is currently working in 13 villages in Silora block in Ajmer district and 5 villages in Parbatsar block in Nagaur district. 37 CHM (Community Health Mobiliser – one per 500 population),
Using puppet show to provide information about health issues
5 CI (Cluster In-charge) and 1 Program Manager have been appointed to effectively run this program. The total population covered in this project is 17,500 persons. In each of the village, Manthan has formed and is working with four groups – men’s group, women’s group, adolescent boys’ group and adolescent girls’ group. Activities with these groups include conducting training, organising awareness rallies, showing education films and puppet shows, participation at Government health camps and monthly meetings. Activities in this program also include collaborating with various stakeholders at the Panchayat level including Anganwadi workers, ASHA Sahayoginis, ANM, teachers, PRI members. In addition it involves co-ordinating efforts with health officials at the block level.
In order to reduce child mortality and mother mortality; and increase women’s awareness about their health needs, Manthan conducts health camps for pregnant women and mothers. At these camps, health check-ups are conducted, medicines are provided according to the need and nutritious food is provided. Information about care during pregnancy, balanced diet, safe delivery, complete immunisation of children, family planning and preparations before delivery is also imparted at these camps.
Health check-up of a woman
MCHN (Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition) day is held in all villages at the Anganwadi once a month. This is a fixed day every month (for example the first Thursday of every month) so that people know and can attend. Those villages that have a Sub Health Centre hold it on another day of the month as well. MCHM days are organised by the respective government departments. Manthan provides support to it by monitoring the attendance of the pregnant women and children; and ensuring that they get access to all the services that are provided for. All the pregnant women and young children are motivated to attend MCHN day. Children get vaccinated, health check-ups of pregnant women are conducted, immunisation cards are prepared, information about health issues is provided, if any danger signs are identified the case is referred to hospital, women who lack proper nutrition are identified and registered for getting nutritious food from the Anganwadi every week and a meeting of adolescent girls is held.
