Thousands benefit from C-NES-NRHM partnership for health of island dwellers

Guwahati, 30 April 2008 - In a new initiative, health teams, including doctors, nurses,  and community organizers, have been traveling under extremely challenging conditions to reach thousands of people  with health services in the island populations of Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Morigaon and Dhubri districts in Assam, bringing health and healing to many who have been outside the reach of existing services..

The initiative, under a partnership between the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research (C-NES) and National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Government of Assam, had conducted not less than 103 camps in February and March — the agreement was signed in February 2008.  The camps last one to four days on the islands and have reached not less than 16,000 people.

The teams comprise a total of 50 persons for the five districts: there are 10 doctors, along with nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians, community workers and community organizers.

The programme is in continuance of C-NES’ boat clinic project which started in Dibrugarh in 2005 and expanded to Tinsukia and Dhemaji districts.

“The partnership with NRHM has given a huge and effective boost to the effort to reach the unreached with health care, especially with immunization and care of  both pregnant and new mothers,” said Sanjoy Hazarika, C-NES Managing Trustee. Mr. Hazarika pointed out that there are over 2,500 saporia/chars in Assam with a population of over 25 lakh. Most of the smaller saporia hardly have any facilities.

NRHM is funding the programme in terms of medicines, equipment, running costs and salaries.  C-NES has designed and built the health ships, selected the doctors and other staff to run the campaign.

The target is to reach at least one lakh persons by the year-end and to further increase this number substantially in 2009 as a result of the PPP (Public Private Partnership) between C-NES and NRHM.

For further details, contact:

Ms. Ankita Das
Communications Officer
C-NES
D6, 6143/3, Vasant Kunj
New Delhi 110070
Email: c-nes@c-nes.org
Phone: 91 11 26121426, 46078532
Website: http//www.c-nes.org

Or

North-east Office
Ilashree, House no. 9, 2 nd Bylane, Rajgarh Road
Guwahati 781003, Assam.
Tel: 91-361-2463962
email: sanjoy@c-nes.org, sanjaysharma@c-nes.org