EHA

The Community Health programme of Baptist Christian Hospital has three programmes working in 100 villages in Udalguri in Assam, and a new initiative in East and West Kemeng districts of Arunachal Pradesh.

ADWR: Children Focused Malaria Control Programme:

The project has been working through schools and churches for three years to address the menace of malaria. The rise in levels of awareness among the children has meant that there has been a marked improvement in the situation. The project, in partnership with the government and other partners, will continue to work to deal with malaria, but is looking to expand its areas of intervention to be able to tackle child abuse and trafficking.

ADWR: Community Based Rehabilitation Programme:

Awareness about disabilities and their causes was spread among members of the communities. Along with this, information about the rights and benefits that people with disabilities are entitled to was also passed on to the people in Udalguri. In the latter half of 2009 14 children with disabilities were identified and assessed. One of them (a four year old boy) has able to see for the first time after he received spectacles from Shankar Netralaya. A parents' association, which has been active in advocacy and support, was formed; and four children were enrolled into regular schools. In the beginning of 2010, intervention and resource centres for children with disabilities were started in Harisinga and Udalguri were started, which help 18 children.

AHBAAS – A Hepatitis B Awareness and Safety Initiative and Vaccination Programme:

This programme, aimed at raising awareness about Hepatitis B and vaccinating school children in Tezpur and Udalguri, was started in partnership with CMC, Vellore. It “piggybacked” on the malaria programme and the CBR programmes already working in these areas, and was able to reach out to tea gardens as well. A total of 12120 people received vaccination through the 46 camps that were conducted in schools and tea gardens. Awareness programmes were conducted in villages, churches and schools.

KIRAN – a ray of hope – Community Health Programme in Arunachal Pradesh

This was started on the request of Jesuits who were working in West Kameng district, because of the numerous deaths occurring due to malaria epidemics. The project conducted awareness programmes in the villages, and recently 13 volunteers from the villages were trained. Also, a training was conducted for school students.