Documentation for change
Kannapiran, C.
World Health Forum 11(3): 313-317
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0251-2432 PMID: 2291798 Document Number: 375383
The article discusses the role and functioning of health documentation centres in the light of the experience gained when one such body was set up in India. In an effort to bring together data relating to various studies on health, health education, training, campaigning and other areas, and to facilitate its retrieval and dissemination, the Voluntary Health Association of India decided to establish its own documentation centre. Specific activities include the provision of health and health-related information to the staff for their programmes, the support of small rural and urban health groups and other action groups promoting health in the community, and the provision of continuing education for health and development workers. The main users are researchers, national and international organizations, trainers, health educators, other state voluntary health associations, journalists and action groups, and health and development workers at the grassroots level who form the core of the Association's members. The main problems experienced, however, are limited budgets, personnel and space which make it difficult to provide an effective, reliable service.