GRAM SEVA TRUST - Annual Report 2009-2010 Preface Gram Seva Trust has been dedicated to providing health care and development in and around rural area of Kharel in South Gujarat since its inception in 1994. Although the entry point was to provide quality health care at an affordable cost to the rural poor of the area, it was imperative to get involved with other concerns of the community well-being like malnutrition, plight of women and children, poverty and illiteracy. The inter-linkages between poverty and disease, between illiteracy and backwardness are well known and can not be ignored. It is meaningless to talk of good health care without ameliorating the adverse conditions that these people live with. While tackling malnutrition amongst pre-school children was our major initial project in the community, subsequent years saw other projects targeted towards community development focusing on mother and child health, women’s economic activities, adolescent girls and boys’ health, de-addictions and education. Projects like SNGO, Child Nutrition etc. have given us the opportunity to co-ordinate and work with the Government setup. They have also helped in developing co-ordination and understanding not only between the hospital care and the community but also between the two arms of staff, those working in the hospital and those working actively in the field. Women have emerged in the forefront of all community related projects; be it income generating schemes, health education or formal school education. GST has encouraged women in taking a leadership role. Toilet project this year was on demand by the women from Self Help Groups and has been a new learning experience for us. Mahatma Gandhi emphasized village development as central to national progress and prosperity. In the current times, Mohamed Yunus of Bangladesh revolutionized women empowerment in developing nations through Grameen Bank concept of micro-saving and micro-credit schemes. We too believe that women can lift the entire community to a different level, with improved standard of living, through education and financial emancipation and have approached rural development by similar interventions. We always believed in transparency and social accountability in voluntary sector. This year, the organisation is accredited by Credibility Alliance (C.A.) for minimum norms. This gives more credibility to the organisation and makes us proud. All through its inception we have received tremendous love and trust of our many friends from home and abroad; whatever we have achieved so far is largely due to your unstinting support and generous donations. Your commitment to the betterment of health and living of the rural poor has given us many excellent opportunities. We remain grateful to all of you and our Trustees for the continued support. We seek your blessings as we continue the journey ahead. Dr. Ashwin Shah Place : Kharel Managing Trustee Date : On behalf of Board of Trustees 1 GRAM SEVA TRUST - Annual Report 2009-2010 Van Arogya Kendra (New Satellite Centre) at Mahal, Dang District Introduction The centre was inaugurated on 11 October, 2009 in Gram Seva Trust started with mission to make quality the presence of Trustees from GST, Shri Jayantibhai, medical care available to the poor and needy villagers Shri Manharbhai and other trustees of Shanti Seva of the surrounding villages. The Trust is now in its Pratishthan, Shri Ramjubhai - Chief of District sixteenth year and we are happy to present an account Panchayat, Shri Ghelubhai and Shri Dilipbhai Naik, of our activities, some old and some new initiatives. social workers and Sarpanch Ganeshbhai and villagers Amongst the new, two major activities are Van of Mahal. Arogya Kendra (satellite centre) at Mahal and the A medical team from Kharel visits the centre every Toilet project. Wednesday. Patients with routine illnesses are examined and given treatment at an affordable cost at Van Arogya Kendra (New Satellite the centre itself while those needing further care are Centre) at Mahal, Dang District brought to Kharel hospital. This year 1416 patients have been treated during 23 visits. Setting up of this Our organization has strived to provide relief to the facility has been greatly appreciated by the local poorest of poor and reaching the unreached in the community. remote interiors where there is no cost-effective medical or healthcare. Satellite centre at Kudkas was started with this aim and it has been working Toilet Project successfully in the hilly area of Dang district on Lack of proper sanitation and clean drinking water has Vaghai-Ahwa road. Mahal is situated even further in been recognized as a major cause of rural ill health. Dang district, about 120 kms away from Kharel. It In a recent study in Britain, ‘toilet’ has emerged as is a protected forest area with a difficult terrain. We the most important medical advance in last 200 years, had been looking forward to starting another satellite second only to discovery of penicillin injection. centre at Mahal since two years but could not do so This has a great social significance also. India has for want of suitable land or building. Much to our joy, this unique problem of lack of toilet facilities both this opportunity came our way in 2009. The Water in urban and rural areas. Women from our self-help Distribution Department of the District Panchayat groups came together in making a demand for the gave us a place to start the satellite centre at Mahal. toilets. They were willing to pay towards the cost Shanti Seva Pratishthan of Navsari came forward to of these toilets if they could be provided soft loans. provide financial help on continued basis to start this 50 low cost toilets made of Ferro cement have been health centre. GST has been associated with Shanti built in different villages (on demand) this year. The Seva Pratishthan for many years. We have organized project was supported by Habitat for Humanity, India several medical camps in distant villages of Dang (HFHI) by providing interest free loan to be repaid in district sponsored by this Trust. Chief Trustee of 36 installments. Shanti Seva Pratishthan, Shri Manharbhai Shah lives This was a new learning experience for us. First of all in London but has concern for the poor of these areas the demand came from the community and this was and is trying to raise funds to sustain the activities of a welcome change. A Mahal centre. good deal of time and effort otherwise are spent in convincing the villagers of benefits of any project or program that care providers may take to the community. There is greater co-operation and acceptance when projects are started on demand. On the flip side we had no 2 Hospital Services GRAM SEVA TRUST - Annual Report 2009-2010 experience in building these toilets. There were innumerable problems in procuring and transporting of materials, training the workers and then retaining those trained as quite a few were alcoholics and irregular with frequent absenteeism. The search for a reliable contractor who could ensure good quality work was also an uphill task. Besides, we had to provide storage, transport and residential facilities along with supervision and control, all areas outside our normal working experience. We deeply appreciate the patience and support provided by officials of HFHI. Some interesting feedbacks from the community The Kharel Hospital is a 50 bed facility with all basic specialties. General Medicine, Pediatrics, • First we used to be afraid of being attacked Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ophthalmology, by leopards. Now we are not scared… Physiotherapy and Dental services are provided by full Jaswantbhai (Bodwank) time consultants. There are visiting doctors for other • Our young daughters had to go out for toilet departments like Orthopedics, ENT, Dermatology, and this caused us great worry at times. Sonography and Psychiatry. The hospital has Now we don’t have to worry…Tulsibhai radiology, well equipped modern laboratory, (Chabadi) ultrasound and ambulance services available at very reasonable rates. Medical store provides medicines • My daughter didn’t visit us after her and other related consumables at concessional rates; marriage as we did not have a toilet. This it has been our constant endeavor to use rational time she came and stayed for a week… approach based on the merit and proper indications Bhartiben (Andhal) for clinical use of medicines. • It used to be a mess to go out for toilet in The patient load has increased over the years even as rainy season…Anilbhai (Changa) the newer technologies and advanced care has become available to the patients. • Toilet scheme was very nice, affordable and useful…Dineshbhai (Chabadi) At present there are daily Out Patient services in all • Toilets have increased our social status and Department 2008-2009 2009-2010 dignity. The guests also feel comfortable in OPD Patients (New) 20041 coming… Bhartiben (Endhal) OPD Patients (Old) 30693 Total OPD Patient 49408 50734 Activities of the Trust Indoor Patient. 4954 5861 Hospital Services Consult by Sp. Doctors 50734 There is a progressive increase in the number of Surgery 1272 1407 patients coming to the hospital and this year too the Delivery 1291 1456 patient load has increased both in outdoor and indoor T.B. Patient 122 care as also number of major surgeries and in hospital Laboratory Invesg. / No.of Patients 52299/17433 66000/22000 deliveries as seen in the chart. This is an indication X-Ray 3921 3951 of the credibility and affordable quality services offered at the hospital. For us at the GST it reflects Sonography 3042 2936 the dedication, compassion and commitment of our Free Food Dishes 51119 77306 doctors, nurses and the other staff which we deeply Snake Bite Patients Treated 77 132 appreciate. Physiotherapy 1795 1485 3 GRAM SEVA TRUST - Annual Report 2009-2010 Chiranjivi and Bal-Sakha Projects broad specialties and special clinics are also held like and timely administration of anti snake venom serum for antenatal check-up, sonography and others.