Success-Stories-on-Health-Sector

nagalanD
wEaving a DrEam: a PEoPlE’s initiativE For HEaltH CarE
ProblEm statEmEnt
In 2010, nRHM nagaland initiated a strategy which is
collaboration between the people of ‘Changsang Range’,
Tuensang district and the Eleutheros Christian Society
(ECS), a local ngO engaged with the local community for
the promotion of livelihood, education and also running
an AIDS Hospice at Longpang, to holistically address the
health needs of a socio-economically underdeveloped
community by weaving various activities around the goal
of ‘Sustainable Development’.
Recognising that health is a shared responsibility,
the villagers of the 17 villages comprising about 8000
households got together to address the health gaps of
the area by establishing a collectively self-financed and
managed health unit for easy access and affordable
healthcare delivery services. To finance the health facility,
the villagers decided to link it with the promotion
of livelihood and skill-building, availing insurance
policies, promoting education and awareness and also
by contributing financially and man-days towards health
infrastructure development.
ProgrammE DEsCriPtion
Highlights of activities undertaken to support Weaving a
Dream: a People’s initiative for Healthcare project:
1. Collectively self-financed and managed health unit:
Health is a shared responsibility
a. Subsidised user’s fee-based health facility.
b. Villages contributed more than 1000 man-days in
the development of site and construction of 3 staff
quarters and the hospital kitchen.
c. Every household (8000 households) in the
17 villages contributed Rs. 10/- each annually.
d. 16 Churches contributed Rs. 2000/- annually
towards the management of the hospital canteen.
e. Every Village Council gave Rs. 500/- as yearly
registration.
f. Earning from 1 orange plant per household
annually (amounting to more than 5 acres of citrus
plantation annually) goes to the health facility.
g. Each SHG member contributed Rs. 30/- annually.
h. assistance from government and other agencies.
2. Health Insurance: Insuring for a healthy future
a. Edou Banks: The women in the project villages
formed Women’s Self Help Groups to manage ‘Edou
Banks’ – to raise finance for medical treatment.
b. Collaboration with Birla Sun Life Insurance.
Promotion of Livelihood: Sustainable health
Orchards in 700 acres of land: the villages started a massive
inter-cropping project with support from NABARD. Piggery
Farms: 1000 Households received financial assistance from
State Bank of India and NSCB for piggeries.
Education: Health through awareness
Reviving ‘morung’ or ‘sochum’: all the villages have
revived the traditional ‘morung’ or ‘sochum’ to make it as a
‘centre for learning skills for progressive living’.
‘Onou’ – A special scheme for promotion of Institutional
Delivery.
An ECS in consultation with and support from the
community and Village Councils introduced a special
scheme called ‘onou’ which means ‘Grace‘ in Chang Naga
dialect.
Nutritional Support to Pregnant Women
ProgrammE outComEs
Longpang PHC, which was earlier functioning as an AIDS
Hospice, is conducting institutional deliveries since July
2011. Pre- and post-pregnancy counselling sessions are
being held regularly. The PHC also admits People Living
With HIV/AIDS (PLHA) with free accommodation,
medical consultations, diet, medications, referral if
required etc. The PHC is also involved in conducted
various health awareness camps in the surrounding
17 villages. A Health Newsletter is being published
every quarter.
sCalabilitY
The success of this programme could also be replicated
in areas where the healthcare service delivery is poor due
to varied reasons. But for this, the community first has to
participate and take ownership of the existing healthcare
delivery system and try to build upon it.
Contact
Deputy Director, nRHM, nagaland
Email: kika.longkumer@gmail.com
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