Making life easier in the rugged countryside through the Panchkhal Panchayat Health Movement
Pande, B.R.
Joicfp Review 10: 16-19
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0911-0763 PMID: 12313882 Document Number: 416203
Nepal is a mountainous Himalayan country. All the signs of underdevelopment--poverty, illiteracy, sickness, malnutrition, high birth rate, high infant mortality--are evident. Life in Panchkhal is not easy. Women work hard, fetching water from streams or ponds. There are no safe sources of water. Water-borne diseases are common because of fecal contamination of water. Unhygienic habits and unsanitary disposal of human excreta have resulted in a high incidence of parasitic infestation in the community. In 1983, community-based health care units were set up. Community members pooled funds for a community-based primary health care unit where drugs for diarrhea, scabies, dysentry, cough, fever, and eye infection would be made available at low cost. The Integrated Family Planning and Parasite Control Project has set up a sales depot to make drugs available at nominal prices. 2 health units were established in Panchkhal in 1983. There was a strong determination on the part of the community to improve the health status of the people, especially that of the uner-5s. The local village health workers were trained and assigned to work in the project area. Village health workers found the health unit a useful base. The importance of disease prevention was realized by the villagers. At present there are 9 health units. Each is run by 2 village health workers who receive salaries from either the integrated project of the government FP/MCH program. Social workers also provide services. A woman volunteer trained in basic MCH and family planning motivation assists the unit twice a week. The responsibility of the health committee is to ensure the smooth operation of the unit and to see that health care is provided to the villagers. Toilets have now been constructed in many homes. Children are healthier. Family planning is more acceptable to the community. The marketing of lacal produce is a problem, as well as funding of the health project.