Access to Health-Related Information
Health Education & Awareness:
One of the main stumbling blocks in health care has been the lack of health education and information among communities. Thus, it becomes imperative that women and their families are aware and trained to handle basic health issues- especially in prevention of disease or illness and handling of emergencies.
Objectives of health education
- To serve as a preventive tool against various diseases.
- To link SEWA members with various health schemes of Government.
- To reduce the medical expenditure of its members by creating awareness about the diseases that could be prevented.
- To promote healthy attitudes and behavior amongst its members.
- To promote a holistic understanding about the importance of physical and mental well-being.
More than 22 Lakh persons have been benefited in the last nine years, that is, from the year 2001 to 2011, through various health education and awareness programmes on issues like human body and its functions, primary health care, maternal and child health, nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, communicable and non communicable diseases.
Technical Resource Cell (TRC)
Lok Swasthya Mandali, LSM established a technical resource cell in 2006, as part of scaling up SEWA’s needs-based, women-led approach to health. This program initiated with LSM’s assistance to SEWA sister organisations in Bihar, West Bengal and Rajasthan. The TRC now offers the unique combination of grassroots experience and technical expertise in public health.
The mission of the TRC is to help other organisations in designing and implementing community-based health programs. Led by senior trainers in SEWA Social Security, the services of the TRC are oriented to India’s grassroots realities.
LSM’s areas of expertise include:
Community health worker training
- The Indian public health system
- How to implement a community health program
- Delivering health education
- Prevention and treatment of common illnesses
- Women’s health, including reproductive and sexual health
- Maternal and child health
- Occupational health
- Midwife (dai) training
- Lifestyle and chronic disease
- Yoga and Ayurvedic medicines
- Health insurance
- Advocacy and accountability
Health Program Design and Development
- Needs assessment
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Action research
- Technical papers
LSM has trained organisations in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. We have developed practical training modules, and our programs include a synthesis of classroom and practical, on-the-job training by experienced health workers. Program content, duration and methodology are developed in consultation with the partner organisation.
