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Category: Healthcare Projects

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Healthcare Projects

Chennai – Doorstep health services for slum dwellers

Chennai – Doorstep health services for slum dwellers

Chennai, counted among the fastest growing metropolitans in the country, has the fourth highest population of slum dwellers among major cities in India, with about 820,000 people (18.6% of the city’s population) living in slums.

Most of the slums are in extremely miserable conditions –one room houses where people cook, clean, wash and sleep as well. There is no drainage system, no awareness and people openly defecate which leads to spread of various diseases. A significant number of slums are not listed in official records and therefore remain outside the purview of public services including health which further accentuate their vulnerability to health risks.

Chennai has world-class medical facilities, including both government-run and private hospitals. The city in fact has been termed India’s health capital. But unfortunately these facilities and healthcare measures remain confined to the upper strata of the society and less privileged people and slum dwellers have no access to the advanced medical infrastructure of the city.

Intervention

Smile Foundation launched Smile on Wheels in Chennai on 15th Oct’15, with support from Ericsson India Global Services Pvt. Ltd. The project provides doorstep healthcare services to 11 slum areas in the city including Mattuankuppam, Nadukuppam, Ayodyakuppam, Mullikupam, Nuchikuppam, Doominjkuppam, Bharathikuppam, Selvarajapuram, Nambikinagar and Burma colony.

The mobile hospital project provides access to facilities like OPDs, lab tests, free of cost medicines, along with preventive and promotive measures and awareness programmes, to create a sense of healthy living, sanitation and hygiene among the underprivileged masses. Rare cases are referred to specialised hospitals and healthcare centres for further treatment.

In slum communities, the poor living conditions lead to spread of chronic ailments and infectious diseases which further lead to adverse effects on the overall health of the family, with women and children being more vulnerable. Hence, maternal and child healthcare are an important aspect of the project.

Project Highlights

  • The SoW project will cover a population of 16,000 every year from 11 slum clusters in Chennai including Mattuankuppam, Nadukuppam, Ayodyakuppam, Mullikupam, Nuchikuppam, Doominjkuppam, Bharathikuppam, Selvarajapuram, Nambikinagar, Burma colony, etc.

  • Awareness activities are conducted regularly on topics such as Personal Hygiene, Institutional Delivery and proper Hand Washing.

  • Critical cases are referred from time to time to nearby government and private health centres in the departments of Gynaecology, Radiology, ENT, Dermatology, Orthopaedics and Paediatrics for specialised treatment.

  • Women are increasingly availing of the antenatal and postnatal services, which in the long term would lead to decreased infant and maternal mortality rates, and a healthier next generation.

IMPACT

A TOTAL 261 OPDS ORGANIZED

OVER 10 ICE ACTIVITIES WERE CONDUCTED LAST YEAR, BENEFITING MORE THAN 1324 PEOPLE

1294 PATHOLOGICAL TESTS WERE CONDUCTED SO FAR.

A TOTAL OF 24232 PEOPLE BENEFITED FROM THE HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROVIDED

Categories
Healthcare Projects

Integrated Healthcare Rehabilitation Programme in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand

Integrated Healthcare Rehabilitation Programme in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand

Uttrakhand, a state known for its sweeping panoramas of mist covered mountains, rivers, lakes and glaciers faced the wrath of nature when the calamitous flash floods in the year of 2013 brought the state to a standstill. The catastrophic floods affected 13 districts, killed 5700 people and rendered thousands of people homeless. The district of Rudraprayag reportedly faced the highest devastation in terms of loss of lives and property.

Situated at an elevation of 2,936 feet, Rudraprayag is inhabited by over 2.3 lakh people. Named after Lord Shiva, the district is known for its immense natural beauty and for being the point of confluence of the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. A popular tourist draw, Rudraprayag was left to ruins by the floods, leaving the health system of the region ineffective, at a time when the inhabitants needed it the most. Scattered and disconnected villages, made the delivery of the available medical resources difficult. The hilly terrains, and devastated roads and infrastructure further exacerbated the situation.

Intervention

Smile Foundation in collaboration with Union Bank of India Social Foundation Trust, has been working to provide the much needed helping hand so that life in the disaster-hit regions can regain its momentum.

Launched in April 2014, the project includes conducting health check-up camps in villages and setting up Static Health Clinics. The project delivers free curative, preventive and promotive health services in the flood hit-areas. Active in 23 villages of Block – Ukhimath of Rudraprayag district, the project has around 11,500 direct beneficiaries. The project also includes regular awareness activities to enlighten the village folks with the importance of health and hygiene. These programmes are attended by both men and women. According to a survey by Smile, of the several diseases prevalent in the rural areas, 46% were preventable. This called for strong preventive measures in order to ensure that villagers follow practices that allow them to stay clear of these diseases. Those diagnosed with diseases are provided effective treatment for free.

Project Highlights

  • A total of 12 community meetings were conducted that helped 543 beneficiaries in the villages of Rudraprayag district.

  • Operational since 1st April, 2014, static clinic programme is providing free health care services to the community. Static Clinic, Mobile Health Clinic and IEC Activities are the three salient features of the project.

  • Well-equipped mobile health clinic covers 23 villages spread across 11 Gram Panchayats.

  • Working in direct coordination with District and Block level hospitals, the Static Clinic offers pathological services.

  • Awareness activities on health and hygiene, and nutritious food conducted in several villages that were attended by both men and women in significant numbers.

  • To inculcate better health and hygiene practices among children, school health activities are also conducted on regular basis.

IMPACT

A TOTAL 547 OPDS ORGANIZED

OVER 32 ICE ACTIVITIES WERE CONDUCTED LAST YEAR, BENEFITING MORE THAN 1509 PEOPLE

2062 PATHOLOGICAL TESTS WERE CONDUCTED SO FAR.

A TOTAL OF 26641 PEOPLE BENEFITED OF WHICH 40% BENEFICIARIES WERE WOMEN

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Healthcare Projects

Ensuring Good Health of Children and Families in Bangalore Slums

Ensuring Good Health of Children and Families in Bangalore Slums

The rapid growth of infrastructure and booming technology sector in Bangalore has created vast wealth for many; however, around a quarter of its 8.4 million people still live below the poverty line. This underprivileged population, more than half of which are migrants from different parts of Karnataka and other states, inhabit at least 600 slums across the city and hundreds others that have not been accounted for. Distressed with poverty and low social status, these slum dwellers mostly resort to construction work and informal labour to make the ends meet.

Absence of basic civic amenities, such as drinking water, sanitation, garbage disposal, drainage system and toilets make living conditions grim for these people. Owing to underprovision and marked inequitable distribution of primary healthcare services, the slums in Bangalore have become a hotbed of preventable and vector borne diseases like tuberculosis, diabetes, malaria and dengue. Illiteracy and lack of health-seeking behaviour further add to the hazardous health practices rampant in urban slums to risk the lives of the impoverished population, particularly pregnant women and children who need more attention than others.

Intervention

With the aim of ensuring good health of the downtrodden population of Bangalore, Smile Foundation has joined hands with ANZ (Australia and New Zealand Banking Group). With their support, Smile Foundation is extending its healthcare services to over 20 slums across the city including Gorguntepalya, Nandini Layout, Indiranagar WC Road, Nayandanahalli, Agrahara Dasarhalli, Sanjaygandhinagar, Sumanahalli, Laggere and Kengeri. Under its Smile on Wheels mobile hospital programme, a wide range of preventive, promotive and curative health services are provided at the doorstep of men, women and children residing in these slums.

The Mobile Hospital Unit is self-contained with all the necessary lab equipment along with audio visual aids and a team of medical experts to provide medical consultation, diagnosis, medicines and lab testing facilities to the beneficiaries. Besides free-of-cost healthcare services, different IEC activities like street plays, community meetings and health talks are conducted under the supervision of a Project Coordinator to sensitise the slum dwellers on nutrition, general hygiene and other essentials for good health. Pregnant women, being the ‘high-risk’ group, are given special attention through special interactions on ANC/PNC, immunization, breastfeeding, newborn care and family planning. Smile Foundation also facilitates referral services to beneficiaries to connect the underserved communities in Bangalore with the government.

Project Highlights

  • General medical check-ups, lab tests and medicine distribution conducted during regular OPDs in more than 20 slums across Bangalore.

  • More than 2500 underprivileged families and children are reached directly every month, 60% of the total beneficiaries being women and young girls.

  • Lab tests for Blood Sugar, Widal, Malaria, UPT, HB, Cholesterol, Scrum Creatinine, TGL, Blood Urea, SGOT, SGPT, Uric Acid, Dengue and HbsAg to ensure proper diagnosis of patients.

  • Special awareness sessions conducted on ANC/PNC to cater to pregnant and lactating mothers and address pregnancy and newborn care related issues.

  • Special health camps, school health programmes and community meetings organised to spread awareness on proper nutrition, hygiene and basic healthcare.

  • Referral services provided to patients for vision check, cataract, FBS, PPBS, thyroid, chest X-ray and fracture.

IMPACT

IN 2014 , A TOTAL OF 12,000 PEOPLE BENEFITED FROM THE INITIATIVE

4500 STUDENTS RECEIVED BENEFIT FROM SCHOOLHEALTH PROGRAMS

OVER100 ICE ACTIVITIES WERE CONDUCTED LAST YEAR, BENEFITING MORE THAN 6500 PEOPLE

IN THE FIRST MONTH OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE STATIC CLINIC PROGRAM A TOTAL265 PEOPLE BENEFITED OF WHICH 57% BENEFICIARIESWERE WOMAN

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Healthcare Projects

Delivering Healthcare at the Doorstep of Ahmedabad Slums

Delivering Healthcare at the Doorstep of Ahmedabad Slums

Ahmedabad is perhaps one of the most prosperous cities in India; yet, it has a large percentage of urban poor due to migration of labour from across Gujarat and neighbouring states. Census 2011 figures state that out of its total population of more than 5.5 million, almost 800,000 people are settled in slum colonies. However, this does not include a significant number of low-income groups and migrants residing in chawls, which were built as residential units for mill workers but have degraded into slums over time due to absence of a source of livelihood. Together, the two constitute a slum population of 1.5 million, which is the second largest in the state.

The level of poverty, in terms of education and primary healthcare, is really low in Ahmedabad. Overcrowded and deprived of basic amenities like sanitation and drinking water, its slums are a breeding ground of diarrhoea, dysentery, asthma, malaria, dengue, typhoid, skin diseases and other health risks. Such poor living conditions in slums and chawls further push households into poverty as its people, working as daily wage earners and shopkeepers, are not equipped to fund treatment. Recent health studies reveal that deteriorating life in Ahmedabad slums has the most adverse effect on its women, the maternal mortality rate reaching as high as 64%.

Intervention

Studies have shown that access to good healthcare not just improves the health of the poor and destitute, but also leads them to a dignified living. Lack of it, on the other hand, deteriorates their diseased condition leading to higher mortality rates. In an endeavour to save lives and improve the quality of life of the underprivileged in Ahmedabad, Smile Foundation has joined hands with Deutsche Bank. Under this intervention, Smile Foundation is rendering its preventive, promotive and curative health services in 14 slums across the city including Gomtipur, Rakhial, Nagari Mill Ki Chali, Soni Ki Chali and CMC Mill.

Through its unique mobile hospital programme Smile on Wheels, Smile Foundation is delivering primary healthcare solutions at the doorstep of families and children living under constant threat of water borne and vector borne diseases. This mobile hospital is staffed with a Doctor, Nurse, Pharmacist and Lab Technician to provide medical consultation, diagnosis, testing facilities and medicines to beneficiaries. There is also a Community Mobilizer on board who is responsible for enhancing health-seeking behaviour among slum communities through street plays, counselling sessions, audio-visual shows and other such IEC activities. Considering the increasing number of maternal and infant deaths, special meetings are conducted for women on diet and nutrition, ANC/PNC and immunization.

Project Highlights

  • Aiming to reach around 1.5 lakh beneficiaries in a year through healthcare services

  • General health check-ups, lab tests and medicine distribution conducted for free through regular OPDs and special health camps.

  • Patients with serious threats to health referred to government hospitals to bridge the gap between the community and public healthcare system.

  • Various awareness sessions conducted on basic health and hygiene, with special focus on maternal and infant nutrition, ANC/PNC and immunization.

  • School health programmes, community meetings and IEC activities conducted to foster healthy living practices among families and children.

IMPACT

IN 2014 , A TOTAL OF 12,000 PEOPLE BENEFITED FROM THE INITIATIVE

4500 STUDENTS RECEIVED BENEFIT FROM SCHOOLHEALTH PROGRAMS

OVER100 ICE ACTIVITIES WERE CONDUCTED LAST YEAR, BENEFITING MORE THAN 6500 PEOPLE

IN THE FIRST MONTH OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE STATIC CLINIC PROGRAM A TOTAL265 PEOPLE BENEFITED OF WHICH 57% BENEFICIARIESWERE WOMAN

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Healthcare Projects

Rendering Healthcare Services in the Slums of Hyderabad

Rendering Healthcare Services in the Slums of Hyderabad

Over the past decade, Hyderabad has been buzzing with commerce and simultaneously, seen a rise in the number of slums due to rapid urbanization and lack of effective urban planning. The latest census data reveals that the slum population of the Telangana capital has increased by an astounding 264% and accounts for almost 33% of its total population (7 million). More than half of its slum population (2.3 million) have lived in Hyderabad for over 10 years and the remaining migrated here from different parts of India in the last decade. These slum dwellers are mainly street vendors and construction labourers or are engaged in unorganised economic sectors.

The total number of slum households in the metropolitan is somewhere around 0.5 million. This burgeoning urban poor population live in grim conditions without basic civic amenities like safe drinking water and sanitation, which adversely affects their immune system and increases their vulnerability to infectious and communicable diseases like tuberculosis, diarrhoea, pneumonia, malaria and dengue. Lack of public healthcare services and absence of health-seeking behaviour in these underserved communities further makes it challenging for them to lead a healthy life.

Intervention

With the aim of catering to the healthcare needs of underprivileged families and children, Smile Foundation has launched its Smile on Wheels (SoW) programme in Hyderabad with the support of Open Text. Under this initiative, 12 slums have been identified as target areas including N.T.R Nagar, Indira Nagar, Yellamma Banda, Singareni Colony, Suraram Weaker Section Colony, Shiridi Sai Baba Nagar, Raj Nagar, Narsing Bagwan Temple Nagar, Anjaiah Nagar, Giri Nagar and Sanjay Gandhi Nagar. With a team of medical experts, this mobile van provides all-inclusive healthcare services right at the doorstep of people residing in the aforementioned areas.

Besides rendering promotive, preventive and curative services, the Smile on Wheels conducts a variety of IEC activities and organises regular health camps to reach out to the communities and sensitise them on nutrition and everyday hygiene. It also lays special emphasis on the health of pregnant women and infants through community meetings that cover essential women-related issues like childbirth, ANC/PNC, breastfeeding, immunization and family planning.

Project Highlights

  • A total slum population of 75,000 will directly benefit from this initiative in a year.

  • The total number of households reached out across 12 slums of Hyderabad is 20,000.

  • General health check-ups and pathological tests conducted during regular OPD sessions for proper diagnosis and treatment.

  • Street plays, health talks and several other IEC activities organised to encourage healthy living among underprivileged families and children.

  • Special focus on women and infants by spreading awareness on childbirth-related issues like ANC/PNC, immunization and breastfeeding.

IMPACT

IN 2014 , A TOTAL OF 12,000 PEOPLE BENEFITED FROM THE INITIATIVE

4500 STUDENTS RECEIVED BENEFIT FROM SCHOOLHEALTH PROGRAMS

OVER100 ICE ACTIVITIES WERE CONDUCTED LAST YEAR, BENEFITING MORE THAN 6500 PEOPLE

IN THE FIRST MONTH OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE STATIC CLINIC PROGRAM A TOTAL265 PEOPLE BENEFITED OF WHICH 57% BENEFICIARIESWERE WOMAN

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Healthcare Projects

Promoting Healthy Living Practices in Ludhiana Slums

Promoting Healthy Living Practices in Ludhiana Slums

Over the last two decades, Ludhiana has emerged as one of the most important industrial towns in not just Punjab, but the whole of North India. Such rapid and enormous growth of the city has resulted in migration of poor population from smaller areas of Punjab and other states like Bihar, UP, Haryana and Rajasthan in search of employment. Due to low income level and inadequate housing facilities, several slum clusters mushroomed in and around the city to accommodate the migrants. As per the provisional records in Census 2011, at least 15% of Ludhiana’s estimated population of 1.6 million live in slums; this does not include a significant number of the homeless and other people from non-notified slums who remain outside the purview of municipal records.

Absence of safe portable water, sanitation and toilets, waste collection and other civic amenities in slums have made living conditions onerous for its residents. Communicable and vector borne ailments like tuberculosis, diarrhoea, dysentery, worm infestation, malaria, typhoid, dengue, skin infection, scabies and RTI/UTI among women are common in the region. Already burdened with the worst physical environment, these slum dwellers working as daily wage labourers, rickshaw pullers, rag pickers and housemaids can hardly make ends meet let alone spend on healthcare.

Intervention

In this time of need, Smile Foundation has partnered with Deutsche Bank to serve the destitute population of Ludhiana. Jugiana, Shrabha Pind, Pratappura, Jamalpur, Tajpur Road, Fatehpur and Mandi Ahmedgarh are among the 18 slum settlements in Ludhiana where Smile Foundation is rendering primary healthcare services under this intervention. Supported by Deutsche Bank, its mobile hospital programme Smile on Wheels has successfully made medical care accessible and affordable for the underprivileged families and children who are vulnerable to health risks.

Besides delivering preventive, promotive and curative services at the doorstep of beneficiaries, Smile Foundation develops a bridging network between them and the public healthcare system through referrals. Special measures are taken to reach out to the neglected strata of urban poor society through health campaigns and community meetings addressing women-related issues, such as childbirth, ANC/PNC, maternal and infant nutrition, immunization and family planning.

Several IEC activities like street plays and audio visual shows are also conducted to encourage health-seeking behaviour in people and sensitise them about basic hygiene and healthy living.

Project Highlights

  • Targeting to provide healthcare services to nearly 40,000 slum dwellers in Ludhiana in a year.

  • Medical consultation and free medication provided during regular OPDs organized in 18 slums across the city.

  • Pathological lab tests conducted for blood group, sugar and diseases like tuberculosis, worm infestation, malaria, typhoid and dengue for proper diagnosis of the patients.

  • Filling the gap between the community and the public healthcare system, patients with serious threat to health were referred to government or charitable hospitals.

  • Many IEC activities were conducted to spread awareness about health risks, their cause and prevention, and importance of basic hygiene and healthcare.

  • Pregnant and lactating mothers were sensitised about childbirth, antenatal and postnatal care, mother and infant nutrition, breastfeeding and immunization.

IMPACT

IN 2014 , A TOTAL OF 12,000 PEOPLE BENEFITED FROM THE INITIATIVE

4500 STUDENTS RECEIVED BENEFIT FROM SCHOOLHEALTH PROGRAMS

OVER100 ICE ACTIVITIES WERE CONDUCTED LAST YEAR, BENEFITING MORE THAN 6500 PEOPLE

IN THE FIRST MONTH OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE STATIC CLINIC PROGRAM A TOTAL265 PEOPLE BENEFITED OF WHICH 57% BENEFICIARIESWERE WOMAN

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Healthcare Projects

Providing health care needs at the time of crisis in Chennai

Providing health care needs at the time of crisis in Chennai

Chennai, counted among the fastest growing metropolitians in the country, has the fourth highest population of slum dwellers among major cities in India, with about 820,000 people (18.6% of the city’s population) living in slums.

The city came to a standstill with the incessant rains lashing for several days. There was a huge need of healthcare facilities after the destructive Chennai floods. People were suffering from water borne diseases and there was a major lack of awareness.

Chennai has world class medical facilities, including both government-run and private hospitals. The city in fact has been termed India’s health capital. But unfortunately these facilities and healthcare were less accessible during the time of the disaster for the people living in the slums, making health conditions worse.

Intervention

Smile Foundation launched Smile on Wheels in Chennai immediately with support from PEPSI Co. The project provided doorstep healthcare services to 12 villages of Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu like Mamandur, Mamandur Colony, Thabalmedu (Palamathur), Bukkathurai, Natarajapuram, Nelvoy, Salavakkam, Mangalam and Nallur.

The camps provide basic health check-ups, medical diagnosis and pathological test facilities and free of cost medicines to the affected families. There was also a need to educate people on the after effects of such disasters and how to keep themselves safe if diseases due to the disaster followed in large numbers.

In a situation as severe as the floods chronic ailments and infectious diseases were spreading more and had adverse effects on the overall health of the families, with women and children being more vulnerable. Hence, maternal and child healthcare are an important aspect of the project.

Project Highlights

  • The SoW project aims to cover 12 villages of Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu like Mamandur, Mamandur Colony, Thabalmedu (Palamathur), Bukkathurai, Natarajapuram, Nelvoy, Salavakkam, Mangalam and Nallur.

  • Ante Natal / Post Natal Check-ups are conducted for mothers and would be mothers. Weight check, measuring blood pressure and hemoglobin level were also done for them. During their visit to SoW the women are also counseled for vaccination and institutional delivery.

  • As part of the curative services pathological tests are also conducted to accurately diagnose the problem and provide the beneficiary with suitable treatment. Around 11% of total beneficiaries were provided with Pathological tests.

  • Critical cases are referred to government hospitals from time to time in the departments of Gynecology, Radiology, ENT, Dermatology, Orthopedics etc for specialized treatments.

  • School Health Programme is another aspect of the project for which first a need assessment was done in 12 villages before the programme started. 11 schools were identified in the Mamandur where regular health check-ups are conducted and the health status of every child is kept in check. This ensures that children are healthy and do not miss school due to health problems.

IMPACT

322 OPD session were conducted so far.

66 % of the targeted beneficiaries are women.

14595 beneficiaries were provided curative services.

1226 pathological tests were conducted so far.

Categories
Healthcare Projects

Improving the Health Conditions in Kolkata Slums

Improving the Health Conditions in Kolkata Slums

According to provisional reports of Census 2011, slum dwellers account for one-third of the total population of Kolkata (4.5 million). More than 40% of these people have lived in slums for two generations or longer ever since the time when Calcutta used to be the financial capital of East India Company. Half of them migrated to the city from rural parts of West Bengal and adjoining states during the 20th century and settled around industrial sites and vacant areas along roads, canals, drains, railway lines and other marginal lands due to lack of adequate housing.

Presently, there are 2011 registered and 3500 unregistered slums in Kolkata housing more than 1.5 million people. Majority of this population lives below the poverty line and works as domestic workers, daily wage labourers, factory workers, rickshaw pullers, hawkers and security guards. Adding to their economic challenges are the deplorable living conditions of bustees and squatter settlements that make them unfit for human habitation. Bore well drinking water, poor drainage, unhygienic public toilets and lack of other basic amenities make the slum dwellers vulnerable to health problems like diarrhoea, dysentery, malaria, typhoid, dengue and tuberculosis.

Intervention

In this time of despair, Smile Foundation is providing preventive, promotive and curative health services at the doorstep of slum dwellers in Kolkata. With the support of Philips, it has deployed its Smile on Wheels mobile hospital in more than 20 slums of Cossipore-Baranagar and Howrah areas. The vehicle is staffed with a team of medical experts who offer free-of-cost medical care solutions to the underprivileged families and children in these slums. The services include OPD, ANC/PNC, immunization, lab tests, minor surgery and medicine distribution. Patients with risks to health are referred to nearby government or charitable hospitals for better treatment.

Another aim of Smile on Wheels mobile hospital programme is to educate the slum population on the importance of hygiene, healthcare and nutrition. Several IEC activities, street plays and group meetings are conducted to encourage health-seeking behaviour in them. Considering the low social status of women, a major percentage of beneficiaries targeted under this intervention are females, particularly pregnant and lactating mothers. Special workshops are provided by the community mobilizers to sensitise them on ANC/PNC, breastfeeding and related issues.

Project Highlights

  • Over 2000 beneficiaries are directly benefited every month through Smile on Wheels.

  • Regular OPDs conducted every month in around 20 slums of Kolkata to provide medical consultation, diagnosis and medicine distribution services.

  • Lab tests conducted for CBG.

  • Several school health programmes, group meetings, IEC activities and street plays have been organised to sensitise families and children on personal health and hygiene.

  • Community meetings and health talks conducted to educate the underprivileged women on ANC/PNC, immunization and other pregnancy-related issues.

  • Referral services provided to patients in need of institutional care.

IMPACT

322 OPD session were conducted so far.

66 % of the targeted beneficiaries are women.

14595 beneficiaries were provided curative services.

1226 pathological tests were conducted so far.

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Healthcare Projects

Fighting Health Hazards in Slums of Pune

Fighting Health Hazards in Slums of Pune

Over the last three decades, Pune has grown into a major industrial centre and is now emerging as a hub of many information technology companies. Due to rapid industrialisation, people from different parts of Maharashtra and other Indian states migrated to this metropolis for livelihood. Their low income level and high real estate cost in Pune forced these migrants to live in squatter settlements across the city, contributing to the increase in its slums. As per provisional figures of Census 2011, nearly 22% of Pune’s total population of 3.1 million live in slums; however, recent studies suggest that its current slum population is at least 1 million (i.e. 40%).

As per Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) reports, there are 353 declared and 211 undeclared slums in the city. A major percentage of these slums suffer from degraded physical environment due to lack of basic civic amenities like proper housing, sewage and sanitation, toilets, drainage system, garbage disposal and safe drinking water. Such deplorable living conditions, along with factors like poor hygiene and lack of education, make these slums a hotbed of communicable and vector borne diseases like typhoid, malaria, dengue and tuberculosis. Poor economic status of slum dwellers, working as labourers in service or construction industries, makes it onerous for them to spend their meagre earnings on healthcare solutions.

Intervention

Smile Foundation has joined hands with Philips to address such pitiable health conditions in the slums of Pune. Under this intervention, the underprivileged are provided free-of-cost preventive, promotive and curative healthcare services through Smile on Wheels – a unique mobile hospital programme. Staffed with a team of medical experts and community mobilizers, the SoW vehicle is deployed in 20 slums across Pune. The targeted locations include Yerwada, Pune Upper, Kharadi (Chandan Nagar), Hadapsar, Vishrantwadi and Janata Vasahat.

The services provided include OPD, first aid, ANC/PNC, immunization, minor surgery, X-ray, BP examination, pathological tests and medicine distribution. Referral services are also provided to patients with serious threat to health for institutional care at any of the government or charitable hospitals. Women and children, being the most vulnerable because of the attitude of the society towards them as dependants, are given special attention throughout the intervention. Through a series of IEC activities, health camps, school health programmes and community meetings, the underprivileged families and children are also introduced to health-seeking practices.

Project Highlights

  • At least 1.5 lakh beneficiaries to be reached directly in a year.

  • Every month, around 1500 men, women and children are provided medical consultation, diagnosis and medicine distribution services during regular OPDs in 20 slum areas.

  • Special health camps conducted on de-worming and health profiling (height, weight and HB test) for better healthcare of the younger generation.

  • Several school health programmes, group meetings, IEC activities and street plays have been organised to sensitise families and children on personal health and hygiene.

  • Community meetings and health talks conducted to educate the underprivileged women on ANC/PNC, immunization and other pregnancy-related issues.

  • Referral services provided to patients who needed institutional care.

IMPACT

322 OPD session were conducted so far.

66 % of the targeted beneficiaries are women.

14595 beneficiaries were provided curative services.

1226 pathological tests were conducted so far.

Categories
Healthcare Projects

Providing Doorstep Healthcare Services in North Delhi slums

Providing Doorstep Healthcare Services in North Delhi slums

Amidst the intertwined metro networks, bustling streets and soaring buildings of New Delhi lies a contrasting world where nearly 15% of its population live in inhuman conditions. Comprising the 2nd largest slum population of India, these 1.8 million people mostly include unskilled and semi-skilled labour who can barely afford basic necessities of life. Illiteracy, irregular employment and poor environmental conditions together make living conditions grim for these slum dwellers.

Despite Delhi’s well-developed health infrastructure, its slum population lacks access to medical facilities that poses a threat to their health and even life. Absence of civic amenities like drinking water, sanitation and garbage disposal makes them more susceptible to preventable and vector borne diseases like malaria, dengue and tuberculosis. Lack of health-seeking behaviour among the slum population has further led to low nutritional status of its women and children, degrading maternal health and an increase in neonatal, infant and child mortality rates.

Intervention

For providing primary healthcare services to the disadvantaged population of the capital, Smile Foundation has partnered with Airbus Group. With their support, Smile Foundation is providing a wide range of preventive, promotive and curative health services across 20 slums of North Delhi under the Smile on Wheels mobile hospital programme. Jahangirpuri, Lal Bagh, JJ Colony, Outram Lane, Prembadi, Udham Singh Park and Shaheed Sukhdev Nagar are some of the targeted areas under this project.

Under this intervention, Smile Foundation delivers healthcare services at the doorstep of slum dwellers through a Medical Mobile Unit. A team of seven members including a qualified doctor, nurse, pharmacist, lab technician, community mobilizer, project coordinator and driver is present on the mobile hospital to provide free-of-cost medical consultation and diagnosis, medicines and lab testing facilities to the beneficiaries. Moreover, the team conducts several IEC activities like street plays and community meetings to sensitize people on health-related issues like nutritional value, general hygiene and drug addiction. Women-related issues, such as pregnancy diet, care of newborn, breastfeeding, immunization and family planning are also addressed by the mobile hospital team to ensure good health of pregnant and lactating mothers and newborns.

Project Highlights

  • At least 1500 beneficiaries were reached directly every month through general health check-ups and pathological tests during regular OPDs in 20 slums of North Delhi.

  • Lab tests conducted for RBS, HB, Malaria, UPT, Typhoid, HbsAg and Blood Pressure for proper diagnosis of the patients.

  • Community meetings conducted to spread awareness on general health practices, good nutritional value and hygiene.

  • Street plays conducted to sensitize the people, particularly adolescents, on the ill-effects of drug addiction.

  • Referral services provided to the patients who needed treatment to bridge the gap between the community and the government.

  • Special awareness sessions conducted on delivery, post-natal care, immunization and family planning to reach out to the women and newborns, which included more than 50% beneficiaries.

IMPACT

322 OPD session were conducted so far.

66 % of the targeted beneficiaries are women.

14595 beneficiaries were provided curative services.

1226 pathological tests were conducted so far.

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  • Signs up for a campaign
  • Signs up to stay updated

2. While forwarding a donation for Smile Foundation the well-wishers have to submit some personal information as it would help us ensuring genuine contributions:

  • Your name
  • Your email and mailing address
  • Your telephone number
  • Your payment processing details
  • Any other data as required

3. Smile Foundation does not collect or record the user’s personal information unless he/she chooses to provide it.

Use of Personal Information

1. General browsing of Smile Foundation website is anonymous and it does not register the user’spersonal information except the time, date and place of visits and the name of internet service provider. This data is used only for statistics and diagnosis.

2. By signing up for various services offered by Smile Foundation, the user explicitly authorizes us to collect information based on the user’s usage. The information is used to help provide a better experience to the user and is used as per the user’s specified instructions.

3. Smile Foundation keeps the user information strictly confidential and this information is secured safely. All relevant information collected through Smile Foundation website is handled and used by internal and/or authorized officials only. It is nevershared with any external agencies or third party individuals.

4. Smile Foundation uses the information givento it in the following ways:

  • To keep an accurate record of all the donations received
  • To update users about its happenings and developments through bulletins and newsletters, with an option of not to subscribe for the same
  • To make sure the user is receiving the most appropriate and relevant information
  • To find out more about the people who are visiting the Smile Foundationwebsite, donating, or joining its campaigns

5. Usually, Smile Foundation does not store user data. In case of specific sign-ups, the data is stored as per user request. The user can opt to delete all the information he/she has provided by simply requesting such by mail. All information, without exception, will be deleted in two working days.

Privacy of e-mail lists

Individuals who join Smile Foundation’s mailing lists via its website or through its campaigning engagements are added to its email database. Smile Foundation does not sell, rent, loan, trade, or lease the addresses on our lists to anyone.

Cookie Policy

1. Cookies are pieces of electronic information which will be sent by Smile Foundation when a user visitsthe website. These will be placed in the hard disk of the user’s computer and enable Smile Foundation to recognise the user when he/she visits the website again.

2. The user can configure his/her browser so that it responds to cookies the way he/she deems fit. For example, you make want to accept all cookies, reject them all or get notified when a cookie is sent. The users may check their browser’s settings to modify cookie behaviour as per individual behaviour.

3. If a user disables the use of cookies on the web browser, or removes or rejects specific cookies from Smile Foundation’swebsite or linked sites then he/she may not be able to use the website as it is intended.

Payment Gateway

1. SmileFoundation uses well-recognised and proven technology for payments. Payment information is transferred by the use of an SSL connection which offers the highest degree of security that the donor’s browser is able to support.

2. Several layers of built-in security, including an advanced firewall system, encryption of credit card numbers, and use of passwords, protect the collected information.

External Web Services

1. Smile Foundation uses a number of external web services on its site to display content within its web pages. For example, to display video it uses YouTube. As with the social media buttons, Smile Foundation cannot prevent these sites, or external domains, from collecting information on the user’s consumption of the content embedded on its site.

2. The Smile Foundation website contains links to other websites for the benefit of its visitors. This Privacy Policy does not apply to such other websites.

3. Smile Foundation is not expressly or impliedly responsible for, or liable to any loss or damage caused to a user by the collection, use and retention of Personal Information by such website in any manner whatsoever. It is important that the users review the privacy policies of all websites they visit before disclosing any information to such websites.

Changes to Privacy Policy

1. As and when the need arises, Smile Foundation may alter its privacy policy in accordance with the latest technology and trends. It will provide you with timely notice of these changes. The users may reach out to Smile Foundation if they have any queries about any changes made to its practices.

2. If you have any questions at all about Smile Foundation’s privacy policy, please write to us at: [email protected]

Refund and Cancellation Policy

Welcome to this web-site of SMILE FOUNDATION. We make public our policy on refund and cancellation of donations received for the social cause on payment gateway as under:-

  • No refund/cancellation for the donated amount by any donor will not be entertained, the online donations through the online payment gateway.
  • No cash or refund of money will be allowed.
  • If any in-kind support received by the donor from any where the material will be reached to the poorest of the poorer communities.
  • Once received the donation for a cause will not be refunded to the donor. No cancellation to be made. The donation will be used for the community development, children education or women’s empowerment.
Terms and Conditions

Use of this site is provided by SMILE FOUNDATION subject to the following Terms and Conditions:

SMILE FOUNDATION reserves the rights to change these terms and conditions at any time by posting changes online. Your continued use of this site after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of this agreement as modified. You agree to use this site only for lawful purposes, and in a manner which does not infringe the rights, or restrict, or inhibit the use and enjoyment of the site by any third party.

This site and the information, names, images, pictures, logos regarding or relating to SMILE FOUNDATION are provided “as is” without any representation or endorsement made and without warranty of any kind whether express or implied. In no event will SMILE FOUNDATION be liable for any damages including, without limitation, indirect or consequential damages, or any damages whatsoever arising from the use or in connection with such use or loss of use of the site, whether in contract or in negligence.

SMILE FOUNDATION does not warrant that the functions contained in the material contained in this site will be uninterrupted or error free, that defects will be corrected, or that this site or the server that makes it available are free of viruses or bugs or represents the full functionality, accuracy and reliability of the materials.

Copyright restrictions:

Commercial use or publication of all or any item displayed is strictly prohibited without prior authorization from SMILE FOUNDATION. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as conferring any license by SMILE FOUNDATION to use any item displayed.

Documents may be copied for personal use only on the condition that copyright and source indications are also copied, no modifications are made and the document is copied entirely. However, some documents and photos have been published on this site with the permission of the relevant copyright owners (who are not SMILE FOUNDATION). All rights are reserved on these documents and permission to copy them must be requested from the copyright owners (the sources are indicated within these documents/photographs).

SMILE FOUNDATION takes no responsibility for the content of external Internet sites. Other websites that we link to are owned and operated by third parties and SMILE FOUNDATION has no control over them. The fact that we include links to other websites does not mean that SMILE FOUNDATION approves of or endorses any other third party website or the content of that website. We accept no liability for any statements, information, products or services that are published on or are accessible through any websites owned or operated by third parties.

Any communication or material that you transmit to, or post on, any public area of the site including any data, questions, comments, suggestions, or the like, is, and will be treated as, non-confidential and nonproprietary information. If there is any conflict between these terms and conditions and rules and/or specific terms of use appearing on this site relating to specific material then the latter shall prevail.

These terms and conditions shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of India.

If these terms and conditions are not accepted in full, the use of this site must be terminated immediately. SMILE FOUNDATION for Social Welfare Service is a registered at

161 B/4, 3rd Floor, Gulmohar House
Yusuf Sarai Community Centre
New Delhi-110049
Phone : +91-11-43123700

Supplementing & In Alignment with Government Initiatives

EDUCATION

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
National Education Policy
Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao
Digital India

lIVELIHOOD

Skill India
Enhancing Formal Skilling



HEALTH

National Rural Health Mission
Universal Health Coverage
National Digital Health Mission
Promotion of Govt. Health Schemes

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Anaemia Mukt Bharat
Poshan Abhiyan
Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan
Anganwadi Strengthening