Health

The Hope Foundation takes several approaches and strategies to ensure improvement to the health conditions of people living in South, North and Howrah Kolkata regions.

Hope Kolkata Foundation has been working in health sectors since 2007 as it is a fundamental component for the holistic development of the communities. HKF has worked in 21 slums of Kolkata and Howrah focusing on the delivery of primary health care to the slum dwellers, generating community awareness and empowering the community to access their entitlements and rights. To ensure the sustainability of our primary health care programme and to continue to create an environment of empowerment within local communities, HKF conducted a Situational Analysis of its health care programme in 2014. Three major health concerns were revealed as prominent issues in each of the communities which have become the focus of this year’s primary health care programme.

• Post natal care (PNC): 83% of mothers in the surveyed population were unable to gain access to PNC. This limited or non-existent PNC access increased the possibility of mortality and morbidity among mothers, alongside the absence of adequate family planning measures. The Auxiliary Nurse Midwife’s (ANM) are expected to follow-up cases after delivery and ensure the mother is accessing PNC services, but this Government service is severely lacking in all areas.
• Reproductive Tract Infection (RTI) and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD): Large numbers of youth and adolescents suffer from STD/ RTI symptoms, which have resulted due to lack of knowledge and awareness surrounding safe sex practices, stigma associated with such infections and lack of accessible health care facilities. Government-run Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) has also failed in one of their main objectives of catering for adolescent female health in this area.
• Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS): HKF’s Situational Analysis identified that 20% of children and 27% of adolescents from the designated areas were not enrolled in the ICDS centers, and those enrolled are not able to access all the services that ICDS should be providing. We have also discovered that the demand for ICDS services outweighs the numbers of centers, leaving many children and adolescents deprived of services. Those communities with access to ICDS centers often find the services inadequate due to lack of staff and resources, poor quality and low maintenance of centers and lack of home visits conducted.

The aim of the programme is to addressing Health Issues of women, children & adolescents from the marginalized slums of Kolkata. The entire project is spread across north Kolkata, south Kolkata and Howrah (municipality and rural).

Achievements (South)

• 10 Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) from each field are in regular contact with ICDS centers to enhance the quality of service delivery within these centers. The CHV’s also meet with Aneshwa Clinic staff to promote their work relating to RTI/STD treatment in the slums.
• Through several awareness camps, home visits and information dissemination, gradually 1St and 2nd PNC are being taken up by lactating mothers at Government Hospitals. Of the total 25 lactating mothers identified, 15 1st PNCs have been facilitated, 14 2nd PNCs have been facilitated, 13 3rd PNC have been facilitated and 25 4th PNCs have been facilitated.
• RTI/STD: Networking, awareness camps, collaboration with Suraksha Clinic and Anwesha Clinic by HKF workers have led to ensure full testing and treatment of RTI/STD by Government hospitals.
• The HKF CHVs have revealed that the communities’ children are now regularly attending ICDS centers and are availing of the ICDS services of pre-primary education, growth monitoring, supplementary nutrition and immunization.

Achievements (North)

• Around 10 active, hardworking Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) from each field are in regular contact with ICDS centers- (meeting with ICDS teachers for the betterment of the ICDS services).
• In all operational areas, pregnant and lactating mothers and their families have begun to realize the value of institutional delivery, due to frequent home visits and small pocket meetings done. Of the total 25 lactating mothers identified, 15 1st PNCs have been facilitated, 14 2nd PNCs have been facilitated, 13 3rd PNC have been facilitated and 25 4th PNCs have been facilitated.
• After establishing some meaningful networking with Suraksha clinic and Anwesha Clinic (regarding adolescent health, safe sex practices) 4 camps were conducted which helped to identify RTI & STD patients.
• 4 Center of ICDS have started to provide ARSH (Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health) training for the adolescent girls.

Achievements (Howrah)

• 10 Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) from each field are active and are in regular contact with ICDS centers to enhance the quality of service delivery within these centers. The CHV’s also meet with Aneshwa Clinic staff to work on RTI/STD treatment in the slum communities.
• Networking conducted with workers of the local health centers and hospitals have focused on ensuring all women avail of 3rd and 4th PNC. CHVs have also started to accompany lactating mothers to their PNC checks, to ensure full PNC is conducted.
• The local Anwesha centre has conducted 20 educational camps in the areas in collaboration with Howrah State General Hospital thus enhancing the local center's delivery of ARSH training for adolescent girls.
• CHVs are highly motivated and help to identify and provide guidance to RTI/STI patients. They ensure their access to health care facilities; broaden their knowledge on safe sex practice.
• 13 ICDS centers in the projects operational areas are now providing supplementary nutrition with quality food to the local children, pre-primary education, immunization and growth monitoring.

Awareness

Achievements:

• 70% of 288 community volunteers in Howrah region, 144 community volunteers in south region and 4011 peoples have increased aware about environment, social and health issues and government welfare schemes.
• 60% knowledge on immunization and importance of Institutional delivery has been increased.
• Knowledge among 168 CHVs has been increased on Nutrition, Balance diet, Hygienic food preparation etc.
• CHV’s knowledge increased from 50% and 40% to 80% and 70 % in Howrah and north regions respectively post trainings.
• 65% CEVs are increased knowledge through training on Environment issues.
• Pre assessment of the training revealed that CEVs had 40% knowledge which increased to 70% post training.
• Increased awareness among 35 slum communities on environmental, social, health issues and government welfare schemes.
• Community People have become more aware about their entitlement rights.
• Awareness about social, environmental & health issues facilitated by coordinators, staff and volunteers of HKF.
• 58 Video Magazines produced by CVUs.

Action

Achievements:

• Improved access of public utilities in 8 slum communities.
• During last six months 6,736/- INR collected from 8 fields and community can use this money to meet the need.
• 45% people of the 8 slums utilizing the proper way of public utility.
• 45% peoples of the slums sensitized about public utility and 40% families are now using dustbin.
• The CEVs took part to clean their surroundings.
• Regular cleaning in Chitpur & Narkeldanga area by representatives of municipal authorities.
• Local Councilors constructed new 4 Toilet & Latrines in Chitpur area for the benefit of the community.
• Total 48 water taps were constructed by local Councilor in Chitpur area.

Access

Achievements:

• 1139 BPL cards were issued.
• 63 eligible women accessing JSY and 886 households accessing NHIS.
• 1232 patients have received free medication.
• INR 21070/- collected in each of the 6 Community Health Funds.
• 137 and 320 ration cards is sued in Howrah and South region respectively.
• 75 SASPFUW issued and 92 JSY PNC money issued.
• 2071 patients supported through Govt Hospital and 2303 patients supported through KMC health units/Sub centers.
• 154 birth certificates issued in 8 slums, 873 patients got free medicines from government hospitals.
• During last six months 137 individuals received ration cards.
• Community avoided middleman to initiate the process to get the Ration Cards and Birth Certificates.
• 170 Ration cards, 116 Birth certificates & 1099 of NHIS done in the last 6 months.
• Community people are aware about NHIS Card and the benefits to get free services from any government hospitals.
• Community is aware about the community fund and Rs.1294 INR has been collected for community fund.
• Increased awareness to avail government hospital facilities for treatment, 1971 treated at government hospitals.

Advocacy

Achievements:

• People are motivated to save money in the community fund.
• CHVs are aware of their human rights, iodine deficiency, new born care & immunization, disability, leprosy and sanitation.
• CHVs become active to organize a campaign and they organized 6 campaigns on Human Rights, Iodine deficiency, New born care & immunization, Disability, Leprosy and Sanitation & Menstruation cycle.
• WBHMC members manage a strong relation and networking with the other GOs & NGOs, 5 meetings held in last 6 months.
• Training organized for CHVs by District TB Control Officer at Belgachhia.
• Effective participation in advocacy by 35 slum communies and 3 partner organizations.
• 46 health rights based campaigns held in vulnerable areas within 6 slum communities.
• 9 legal cases filed under RTI Act.

Reproductive & Child Health

Hope Foundation is also working towards improving the condition of reproduction and child health in north, south and Howrah region and has worked in many areas to make the life of people better and healthy. Some of the key highlights are:

Achievements:

• Improvement in the birth care of 267, 274 and 526 people in north, south and Howrah region respectively.
• Provided the vaccination and medicine facilities to 1077, 1161 and 4160 people making the health condition and prevented the child from diseases in north, south and Howrah region respectively.
• Worked towards providing access to foods, imparting the importance on breast feeding and provided access of doctors for disease identification and treatment of several thousands of people.
• Elped in terms of pregnancy cares reached to 6008, 1149 and 1980 beneficiaries in different care such as Antenatal care, Pregnancy care and post natal care in order to improve the health condition of child as well as mothers.