Community participation and nutrition. The Kasa project in India
Shah, P.M.
Les Carnets de L'enfance 35: 53-71
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0590-5931 PMID: 12308191 Document Number: 430086
To improve nutritional status and health of rural women and children, the Kasa project north of Bombay trains and uses link workers from local villages to bridge the gap between the existing health services and community. They work 4 or 5 h daily for a small honorarium, identifying children at risk and pregnant women, who are then attended by the medical or auxiliary staff. They make and keep up to date a census, weigh children and visit married women monthly, referring them for termination of early pregnancy if that is what the women want, treat minor ailments, distribute food supplements, and once in 6 months they distribute doses of vitamin A 200 000 i.u. by mouth to children aged 1 to 6 years at risk, help with immunization, chlorinate wells, educate persons or groups at home or clinic in nutrition and health; collect vital statistics, advise on planned families and help midwives to estimate Hb and examine urine for pregnant women. The Kasa Project works from a government health centre and studies the feasibility of providing such services throughout the country.