CPHE- Bhopal, Resource Centre for Public Health

The resource centre aims to take forward the Vision of Madhya Pradesh Community Health Fellowship Programme (MPCHFP) which evolved as a civil society response in strengthening capacity of Individuals in community health. The earlier experience of training, supporting people interested in community health and involvement of policy process on public health education, along with Community Health Fellowship Programme review and recommendations were combined into a new fellowship initiative for Madhya Pradesh. After initiating the network of civil society organizations working on health issues, hospitals, people’s movements, academics across Madhya Pradesh into public health alliance, the functioning of the Resource centre was initiated with the public launch in October 2009.

The Resource Centre runs the Madhya Pradesh Community Health Fellowship Programme (CHFP); a practitioner–oriented, masters level programme with conceptual and theoretical inputs along with ample experiential learning. The programme takes professionals from multi-disciplinary backgrounds, for a period of two years, to learn and work at a sub-district and district level. The participants of the programme have been involved in the strengthening of the public health system from below by building community capacity for health and for effective participation in the health system utilizing mechanisms available under the National Rural Health Mission and other schemes of the Department of Public Health and Family Welfare Govt of MP.

The advisory Committee has been set up to help facilitate the smooth and proper functioning of the fellowship programme, the members of the advisory committee have a wealth of experience from the various fields with a common interest in innovative approaches and training. The 8 member advisory committee, with representation from the field of Ethics; Education; Public Policy; Civil Society; Academia, State Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Health services and Communication & Management. They keep track of the progress in fellowship and review the programme and its planning. Annual meetings of the advisory committee have been held regularly to advice on the academic aspects and functioning of the programme and they also interact with each other on e-dialogues.

The Resource Centre in Public Health is a part of the Centre for Public Health and Equity (CPHE). The centre is supervised by the project manager, training co-ordinator and field training officer. This team is supported by Administrative Officer, Accounts and Communication Assistant and 2 Office Assistants. The centre is located in Bhopal to facilitate the technical and operational requirements of the fellowship programme. The team facilitates the learning of the fellows who are spread out in the state of MP and two fellows in Chhattisgarh over 2 batches.

Objectives of Resource Centre in Public Health

Teaching and learning programmes in community health which enables participants to build community capacity and strengthen public health systems from below:

  • Develop strategies to reduce inequalities in health and access to health care
  • Support practitioners, researchers and advocates in community health in MP
  • Develop a network of NGOs, academics and public health system staff keenly involved in community health action in Madhya Pradesh
  • Develop a library and information unit focusing on health and health system.

While facilitating the fellowship programme the resource centre team supports practitioners, researchers and advocates in community health, works with a network of NGOs, academics and public health system staff keenly involved in community health. The centre have initiated collecting relevant materials on health and health system issues on central India. They also participate in different forums to reduce inequalities in health and access to health care. The team also actively participate in the issues brought up by Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, Madhya Pradesh. Overall the efforts to carry out and taking forward the vision, mission and goals of the fellowship initiative in Madhya Pradesh.

INITIATIVE ON NUTRITION AND HEALTH

CPHE Bhopal team is working in Indiranagar slum since 2013 focusing anganwadis to address different issues of malnutrition and maternal health. Assistance was given to Anganwadi worker and supervisor to conduct “sneh shivir” of the “Suposhan Abhiyaan”. In this “sneh shivir” 14 children of Indra Nagar were selected for regular feeding, health checkups, weighing and training of mothers and care givers. Sessions were conducted for 14 children (3 boys and 11 girls). 6 of these children were moderately malnourished , 7 were severely malnourished, and 1 was normal.

Health education to the mothers was given in different ways. Videos and documentaries on child care, nutrition, growth monitoring and hand washing were shown, following which there were discussions on these issues with mothers to see how much they understood. Nutritional activity for mothers with different foods like pulses, grains,vegetables, sugar etc. Mothers choose the things told to all what is the things and why she take the thing. Informal training sessions for Anganwadi workers were held, covering growth monitoring and child care. Now we have started work in a new slum called Gulab Nagar and Dhirendra will look after the severely and moderately malnourished children. Meetings with anganwadi worker and helper, involvement in weight taking and other activities of AWC are planned.

PLAN OF ACTION:

1. Participation in growth monitoring activities at Anganwadi as follows:
* Recording weights of children during the monthly weighing sessions
* Helping AWW worker to plot the weights of children on under-5 cards and AW register.
* Identifying malnourished children from under-5 cards and AW register.
* Categorizing malnourished children as moderate malnutrition and severe malnutrition.

2. Health Education sessions with mothers:
* Encouraging all mothers to send children to AWC for growth monitoring and informing them about
services available at AWC.
* Mothers of all children during weighing sessions.
* Mothers of malnourished children at Anganwadi and at home.

3. Training and support of Anganwadi staff:
* Training of AWW and AWH on nutrition, malnutrition, growth monitoring, common health problems
of children.
* Increasing protein and calorie intake at home (where possible)
* Severely malnourished children – to be advised referral to hospital / Nutrition Rehabilitation Center
(NRC) and when that is not possible to be managed at anganwadi and at home with a high protein and
calorie diet, with participation and support of AWW staff.

4. Feedback to supervisors and higher-level ICDS staff – regarding current status of children in
Anganwadi, moderately and severely malnourished children.