Location: Paradeep Municipal Area, Odisha
SNEH has been identified by the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), Government. of Odisha, to take steps for the formation and capacity-building of Mahila Arogya Samitis (MAS) in the Paradeep municipal area. Seventeen MAS’ have been formed in the 17 slums of the area. SNEH has also sensitized the dwellers of another 22 slums on health-related issues, superstitions, maternal healthcare, new-born care and the welfare schemes of the Central and State governments through staging of Pala (a folk dance form) and organizing slum meetings. The meetings, which are informative and participatory, are conducted by SNEH’s trained personnel, and are attended by community leaders, local corporators and district officials.
Following the devastation of Odisha by the super-cyclone of 1999, SNEH set up a Health Clinic in Kanjiakana village of Jagatsinghpur district, the area that was the worst-hit. The clinic provides free healthcare services, including medication and support for critical ailments, and is manned by a doctor, a pharmacist and a trained woman health worker. SNEH has also extended healthcare services through its trained health workers and TBAs, to support the government health drives on HIV/AIDS, Pulse Polio, Hepatitis-B and other programs. SNEH’s on-ground staff have been sensitizing and conducting outreach programs in the local villages on health, hygiene, sanitation and nutrition.