The Reproductive and Child Health programme-II (RCH-II)

 

The Reproductive and Child Health programme-II (RCH-II) focuses on provision of need based, client centered, demand driven and high quality integrated services for the communities and to make RCH services accessible to the community. 

 

Selected by the Department of Health & Family Welfare (DOHFW) and the Government of India (GOI) as a Mother NGO (MNGO) for Sabarkantha and Mehsana districts, since 1998, CHETNA has been providing technical support to the Field NGOs for effective implementation of the RCH programme.

 

In the Ninth Five Year Plan (1997-2002) the DOHFW and GOI introduced the Mother NGO scheme to supplement their efforts in Health Care delivery in Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Programmes with active involvement of Non Government Organizations (NGOs).

 

The goal of the MNGO scheme is to improve the health status of women, adolescents and children in the selected un-served and under served areas.

 

The key areas for interventions under the MNGO Scheme are:

Ø         Addressing the issue of Declining Sex Ratio

Ø         Adolescent Reproductive Health

Ø         Maternal and Child Health

Ø         Prevention and Management of RTIs/STIs

Ø         Family Planning

 

Sabarkantha and Mehsana districts

As an MNGO, CHETNA has enhanced the capacities of four FNGOs in Sabarkantha and three in Mehsana district on issues like- safe motherhood, new born and child care, Immunization, Adolescent reproductive health concerns and RTI/STI problems.

 

FNGOs in action

These trained FNGOs cover approximately 35000 population of 35 un-served and underserved villages. They work towards increasing the coverage of complete Ante-Natal Care (ANC) among pregnant women, awareness for enhancing acceptance of family planning methods, to increase coverage of complete immunization and to enhance awareness among adolescents about reproductive and sexual health.

 

FNGOs develop linkages to promote conversion among local service providers (Female Health Workers, Link couples, Anganwadi workers etc.) for ensuring accessibility of quality health services. In addition they mobilize local support from CBOs, Teachers, Panchayat committees, Mahila Swasthya Sangh, Self Help Groups, Water Committees etc. through regular meetings to improve the RCH status. Camps and group meetings are organized to create awareness about the reproductive and child health and rights, implication of early marriage and pregnancy and contraception.

 

Outcome  (October '06 to March '08)

·        Improvement in early registration of pregnant women- In Sabarkantha, 1247 pregnant women registered in first trimester

·        Enhanced utilization of services-In Sabarkantha, 956 pregnant women consumed 100 Iron Folic Acid tablets each, 1033 pregnant women received 2 TT injections each, 1147 women received 3 check ups each, 821 pregnant women received complete Ante Natal check ups each.