Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra

Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra

What is the need

It is a paradox that statistics of any ANC coverage shows an increase from 51% to 56%, TT injections from 48% to 55% and IFA tablets from 12% to 19% however, despite the improvement in figures, Jharkhand has been subjected to poor quality of maternal health situation and services. There is very less awareness about institutional delivery and about 80% of total deliveries happen at homes in rural areas where they lack even basic sanitation. Due to higher presence of forest and lack of sanitation cases of malaria are also very high in Jharkhand affecting the health of mother and child.

As per the statistics of AHS 2010-11, MMR of Jharkhand is 261 and that of Ranchi is 294 per 100000 live births. Usually, pregnant women and lactating mothers belonging to poor and marginalised community are most affected.

Approach and achievements

NBJK with the support of CEDPA, formed a cohort of 500 pregnant women and lactating mothers was formed, specifically targeting towards women in their 2nd and 3rd trimester and postpartum period that receive antenatal, natal and post natal services from public and private facilities in the operational areas.  To achieve its goals, two major strategies have been adopted, first, to generate awareness on maternal health entitlements through mobilizing the cohort (beneficiaries) to effectively use mobile technology (swasthya vaani) for enhancing their knowledge and understanding. Secondly, to track women who receive maternal health services from public and private facilities and feeding back their experience using swasthya vaani toll free number.

This project has made use of mobile phones/technology to spread awareness on maternal health services among the community and to help women provide their feedback on experiences visiting a facility/hospital. The use of mobile technology in this project is completely new to the community. However, it is enjoyed by the larger part of the community. Thanks to “Swasthya Vaani”, which has made it easier and simpler for women to stay back home and yet have access to information on maternal health services from anywhere and anytime.

It is outstanding to see the numerous feedbacks received from cohort as well as non-cohort every day. These feedbacks include their experiences (good and bad) on attending a facility during ANC, delivery, PNC. With this project, we have been able to reach many other women outside cohort, who feel motivated to provide their feedback.

In the year 2013, with the support of London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, survey of pregnant women and lactating mothers to find the prevalence of malaria. Survey of 671 such women was done and they were observed during ANC/PNC check-ups at government health centres.

Here we would like to mention voluntary and specialized services by noted gynaecologist Dr. (Mrs.) Ranjana Sharan from Hazaribag who has been supporting our village health camps in Churchu block (District-Hazaribag) since the year 2016 and catered about 5000 rural women in the stages like before / during pregnancy or after delivery. She ensures check up of pregnant women, specially their nutritional deficiency, counsel them over birth spacing, contraceptives, lactation, breastfeeding and took special care by examining their blood pressure, anemia, urine etc. through anti-natal period. Dr. (Mrs.) Sharan helped a number of women for anemia correction and encouraged them for institutional delivery. She conducted anti-natal classes, distributed iron tablets, IUCD and promoted an awareness drive upon maternal & child health across remote villages.

 

Still much to do…

MMR of Jharkhand is 261. Women of poor and marginalised community are most affected.

About 80% of delivery in Jharkhand happens at home in rural areas where they lack even basic sanitation facility.