Thematic Area: Health & Hygiene
Project Guide(s): Ms. Sowmya, Amrita Self Reliant Villages and Mr. Subilash, Center for International Programs
International Partners: Chantal Carneiro, Jacqueline Iwanski, and Nickza Dalas, Ryerson University, Canada
Amrita Partners: Mehar Taj and Varun Gopalakrishnan, Department of Social Work
Village: Ratanpur, Bihar
Project Duration: 1 month
Identified Challenge & Aim: Equity in access to healthcare is still a major challenge for residents of rural communities, especially for mothers and their children. This is especially true for inhabitants of tribal villages. With a lack of sufficient transportation facilities, transportation infrastructure, and sheer distance being a barrier between healthcare centers and rural habitations, rural patients are unable to connect with doctors and receive required treatment. This project aims to understand the current health care system in rural communities in India and what gaps currently exist in maternal and child health care services.
The Study/Innovation: The team first went around the village interacting with villagers and making observations about the village’s social, cultural, economic, political, environmental, and technological factors. This is to help the team have a better understanding of the village. They subsequently made a resource map to give the team a clear picture of the sustainable resources available in the village and helped the team understand the quantity of the resources available. The team then visited the Primary Health Care center (PHC) to gain a better understanding of the structure of the rural health care system as well as its functions and services provided. The team also learned about important government schemes and went back to the village to have several informative sessions with villagers. Finally, the team visited the village’s school to gain a better understanding of the rural education system and subsequently learned about the role of Anganwadis in the larger rural health care system
