Newsletter 02 2006.pdf - Sight and Life

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SIGHT AND LIFE 32 NEWSLETTER 2/2006 The PACHE Trust health program and women’s empowerment P Manoharan, Project Director, Pache Trust, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India Introduction The People’s Association for Community Health Education Trust (PACHE Trust) is a grassroots level non-profit and nongovernmental organization functioning for the dedicated cause of uplifting the rural poor with due emphasis on the betterment of women and children. The organization is also involved in a considerable number of HIV/AIDS prevention projects among the highly vulnerable groups. The organization has been involved in many projects involving community health, women’s empowerment etc. PACHE Trust, in joint venture with SIGHT AND LIFE, has been engaged in the prevention of vitamin A deficiency disorders (VADD) in recent years. The SIGHT AND LIFE Newsletter 1/2002 contained an article from PACHE Trust (pp. 20–21), and pictures of program activities were included in Newsletter 3/2004, p. 48. The project was launched in districts where children were found to be prone to deficiency diseases. It is one of the most significant projects in Tamil Nadu addressing the needs of children below 10 years of age. VADD are a major health concern among children, especially the rural poor. The project has been attaining increasing success with every passing year. The community has been sensitized and there is visibly increased awareness on the prevention of VADD. The goals, to treat and prevent VADD, have not changed over the years. The methods of communication, training and of raising attention for precautionary measures have been developed and refined. More attention is now given to pregnant and lactating mothers. Achievements include reaching more children, the orientation of school teachers, regular school visits, regular vitamin A supplementation (vitamin A capsules), health camps, giving attention to people with other diseases and a strong collaboration with authorities. Awareness of self-help groups (SHG) The SHGs play a major role in the effective implementation of project activities because women are highly involved. It is the SHGs who disseminate the new messages and developmental measures to the community, especially to the women. Besides dissemination of information regarding vitamin A, other micronutrients,
NEWSLETTER 2/2006 33 SIGHT AND LIFE macronutrients and the importance of a balanced diet were emphasized. During the past year 30 orientation seminars were conducted for SHG leaders (many of them are women) representing about 900 groups. The training had a wholesome effect and served its purpose. The members of the SHGs are trained well and the success of the project relies on them as they have to bring the group together and to pass on the messages. Kitchen gardening This proved to be an interesting and suitable approach. Besides the general public, school children showed much interest in planting saplings beside the school and in other places. It was demonstrated how to collect seeds and how to handle them to grow plants. Cultural programs The street plays and other activities have their own impact on the program. In this way even illiterate people can understand the concept. Conclusions The program is going well and developing in the right direction. There are more people to reach and resources are never enough. We thank all those who contributed to the success of the program especially all the active participants, school children, women and SHG leaders, but also organizations like SIGHT AND LIFE, whose contributions are essential. We hope to be able to continue our work with the help of all. An integrated nutrition, training and education program R Ratna Swamy, State Health Coordinator, Population and Environmental Education Centre (PEEC), Velgode, Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Introduction PEEC considers itself privileged to work hand in hand with SIGHT AND LIFE. The support of SIGHT AND LIFE over the past years has made it possible to develop a significant health program covering most of the state of Andhra Pradesh. Reports about PEEC activities were included in SIGHT AND LIFE Newsletters 3/2001 (pp. 34–35) and 1/2004 (p. 17). The program is a continuation from previous years and it is key to sustainability through education, counseling and distribution of vitamin A capsules. The main target groups are community and grass-roots people who are given adequate knowledge to make use of the available natural resources to overcome nutritional problems in growing children. Main activities PEEC is a center for the coordination of activities for more than 110 local NGOs, and even more NGOs attend information meetings. Orientation and training programs for NGO leaders on the importance of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) are offered, as well as awareness camps on eye care for schoolchildren, slum children and their parents. The vitamin A capsules from SIGHT AND LIFE are not only important for the immediate prevention of deficiency, they are also an important tool to raise awareness and to reach people and finally to communicate the message about the importance of the vitamin A and the various kinds of fruits, vegetables and other foods containing vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids. The financial support from SIGHT AND LIFE allows us to give small financial contributions to some NGOs for their activities and to start vegetable gardens. PEEC prepares and prints resource materials like wall posters, handbills, stickers and booklets etc. in the local language. Assistance was offered to tsunami victim families using a special grant from SIGHT AND LIFE. Training programs During 2005 only three training programs were conducted. They were attended by representatives from 85, 90 and 66 NGOs. Awareness programs Some of the partner NGOs are selected for this program to spread the message on the need for vitamin A and its relation to eye care. These NGOs visit schools, slum areas, integrated child development schools and women’s groups, and enlighten them about the importance of healthy nutrition. Also they inform the children, their parents and neighbors about the various vegetables and fruits. These NGOs also distribute resource materials like wall posters, handbills, UNICEF materials and booklets, and they paste wall posters on the walls of important
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