What We Do | CHETNA

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CHETNA recognizes the health, nutrition and other developmental needs of children, young people and women at the critical stages of life viz. children (0-10 years) adolescents and young people (11-24 years), and women (+25 years).

These are the areas in which we work

Thrust Areas

Enhancing the value of girl children through improving access to nutrition, health care, and education.
Optimizing health and development in early childhood.
Promoting nutrition, reproductive and sexual health (including HIV/AIDS) rights and responsibilities of adolescents and young people.
Improving maternal health (reducing death, disease and disability linked and pregnancy and childbirth).
Enhancing food security and improving nutrition.

A Unique Resource Organization

The activities in the area of nutrition and health which were initiated in 1980, developed into CHETNA as a separate activity in 1984. CHETNA has evolved into a unique resource agency which provides support to Government, Civil Society Organizations and Corporates.

CHETNA is designated as the State Resource Agency for the Department of Health and Family Welfare of the Government of Gujarat for implementing community processes and capacity building of government stakeholders. As a resource agency, CHETNA builds capacity of Civil Society Organizations to make health and nutrition services accessible to the people most marginalized from the public health system.

CHETNA is a member of National Advisory Group for Community Action (AGCA) and National ASHA mentoring group. It is also a member of Gujarat and Rajasthan State AGCA.

Activities of CHETNA

CHETNA focusses on the following activities. Through our activities, we ensure for improved
health and nutrition service provision to ensure sustainability of programs.

Strengthening Capacity

CHETNA organizes need-based training programmes for programme managers and implementers from non-governmental and government organisations, as well as from corporates to implement gender-sensitive and comprehensive health programmes. As a follow-up, CHETNA provides capacity building and mentoring support for planning and demonstrating village-level strategies and approaches to ensure equitable access to health and nutrition services, particularly for underprivileged communities.

Communication-Health-and-Nutrition-Information---Activity-Image---Chetna-India

Communicating Health and Nutrition Information

CHETNA develops innovative, interactive and creative Behavior Change Communication (BCC) material. Based on CHETNA’s rich experience of communicating with semi-literate and non-literate communities, and being extensively field tested, the materials are audience appropriate and user-friendly. Several of CHETNA’s materials have been printed in large quantities, and used in existing programmes of the government,non-government organizations (NGOs) and corporates.

CHETNA has been a pioneer in using traditional media to communicate health and nutrition messages. Some tested and successful approaches are Health Mela (fair), YuvatiShibir (Mela), Bhavai (a traditional form of drama), folk songs, PoshanMela (nutrition fair). CHETNA also organises special training programmes on Behaviour Change Communication.

Networking and Advocacy

CHETNA networks and advocates for people-centered, gender-sensitive policies and programmes at the state, national and International level. CHETNA ensures that the voices of the community are included in the formulation of policy and programmes. CHETNA has contributed in the formulation of the National Youth Policy, National Adolescent Health Strategy, Early Childhood Care and Education Policy, and National Policy for Children. During the year 2015-16, CHETNA contributed in the process of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) which is a mechanism of the Human Rights Council (HRC) aimed at improving the human rights situation, on the ground, of each of the 193 United Nations Member States.

Demonstrating Workable Models and Approaches

CHETNA demonstrates workable models and approaches which can be mainstreamed through existing government health and nutrition programmes at the state and the national level. The team showcases approaches to mobilize the community and empower them to take charge of their own health and nutrition, as well as to access and demand quality of services from the public health system. CHETNA showcases training strategies to train large numbers of front-line workers on health and nutrition, communication, supportive supervision and monitoring. CHETNA has made unique efforts towards developing gender- sensitive training modules and materials.

But we’re not done yet. We need your help to empower the lives of children, young people and women

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