[act-ma] 5/22: Tackling Healthcare Challenges in Indigenous India at MIT 4-231

[Mona Mandal]

*Association For India's Development*
*MIT & Boston Chapters *

*Present*

*Tackling Healthcare Challenges in Indigenous India*
*Experiences from the grassroots*
Mon, May 22, 2017 | 6:30PM | MIT, Building 4, Room 231

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/544093245714660/

A Talk by Dr. Aquinas Edassery, Swasthya Swaraj, Odisha

*About Dr. Aquinas Edassery:*
Dr. Aquinas Edassery is the founder of the non-profit, Swasthya
Swaraj, which aims to provide comprehensive community health-care
in the tribal district of Kalahandi in Odisha. Swasthya Swaraj, founded in
2014
is located in the Thuamul Rampur block of Kalahandi, widely recognized as
the most deprived region in India.

The region has been devastated by endemic Malaria and Tuberculosis,
the impact of which is compounded by acute malnutrition and a non
existent public health care system. The infant mortality rate and the
under-five mortality rate of the region are three times higher than the
national average.

*About Swasthya Swaraj:*
Swasthya Swaraj has been operating two clinics in the region, which provide
high quality primary health care, free or affordable therapy, laboratory
and
emergency facilities. Additionally, they organize camps to deal with
specific
issues such as leprosy detection, eye checkups, ante-natal care etc. Their
health management information system, serves as the only source of health
statistics of the region. The organization covers 75 villages of a total
population
of 14,000. They also plan on building community nutrition centers (Gram
Poshan Ghars) to tackle the problem of severe acute malnutrition.

To empower the community, Swasthya Swaraj has been training selected
village individuals as primary health workers (Swasthya Saathis and Shikhya
Saathis), incorporating health promoting activities in schools, training
adolescent girls in healthy practices and also vocations (Tulsi program),
and created mass-health programs on the lines of tribal culture (Swasthya
Jatras). Learn more: http://www.swasthyaswaraj.org

*About AID:*
Association for India's Development is a volunteer movement promoting
sustainable,
equitable and just development. AID supports grassroots organizations in
India
and initiates efforts in sustainable agriculture, healthcare for all,
women's empowerment,
education, safeguarding the environment, and ending gender, caste and class
based
discrimination. Learn more: http://www.aidboston.org

Contact us: president at aidboston.org