The 2011 Census of India shows there are ‘13.7 million slum households in India that live amidst inadequate basic amenities, poor health outcomes, insecurity as well as unstable incomes’. PSI India look out for those who live in these unfortunate circumstances.
The Samagra project endeavours to create a responsive, affordable, equitable urban health ecosystem that focuses on the urban poor, women, girls, and other vulnerable/marginalised populations for quality primary health care. Being implemented in the city of Indore, Madhya Pradesh (MP), the Samagra project works to improve access to inexpensive health services and tackle barriers related to the social determinants of health. More specifically, it aims to increase the use of modern contraceptives, case detection for tuberculosis (TB) and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), improve maternal and child health care coverage to include antenatal care (ANC), intra-natal, and postnatal care (PNC), along with improving immunization rates.
urban health ecosystem for women, girls and
vulnerable urban populations
They also counselled the couple about the range of FP options available to them so they could better plan their family. These interventions came in the nick of time. Read full story More stories
To ensure that communities have access to quality services that meet the evolving health needs, PSI India, through The Challenge Initiative (TCI) India project, collaborated with the government in 19 high-priority cities in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh to map and list the slum populations and clusters. The initiative involved conducting a meticulous mapping and listing exercise, where data was not only collected but also triangulated with various existing government sources. The analysis of this data revealed significant disparities, with a notable 38% increase in the number of identified slums and a 39% increase in the slum population across the 19 cities. These crucial findings served as a catalyst for the government to adapt and refine its urban health service delivery plan, specifically targeting these previously unnoticed populations. The adjustments facilitated a more effective allocation of community health workers, health facilities and resources, strategically addressing the healthcare needs of the entire slum population.
In pursuit of enhancing healthcare accessibility, PSI India, through the Samagra project, extended critical technical support to the Indore Health Department. This collaboration resulted in the establishment of 74 new facilities in Indore, aligning with the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission. Notably, 25 urban primary facilities of Indore now offer iron sucrose for anaemia management, a significant expansion from the initial four facilities. The introduction of Antara (contraceptive injection) and IUCD services initiated at four additional primary health facilities in Indore city further exemplifies PSI India's commitment to comprehensive reproductive health.
Beyond expanding access, PSI India is dedicated to elevating the quality and standards of health facilities and services. This includes the enhancement of maternal and child health services both at the facility and outreach levels. The success of this initiative is underscored by four facilities of Indore cleared the state-level NQAS verification process, and five facilities received Kayakalp Certification in the fiscal year 2020-21. This momentum has surged in 2022, with a noteworthy increase as 19 facilities earned the prestigious Kayakalp certification.
In alignment with the visionary goals of the Government of India, PSI India, through the TCI India project, has successfully initiated the establishment of City Health Coordination Committees (CCC) in 52 cities across five states: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha to support government. This strategic move aims to establish convergence between various departments, both inter and intra, to effectively address the growing health needs of the urban population.
The CCC play a pivotal role in facilitating the integration of family planning and other Maternal, New-born, and Child Health services at the city level. This is achieved through the reinforcement of demand aggregation activities, enhancement of service delivery and the creation of an enabling environment. By fostering coordination and integrated action among all relevant departments, this convergence platform significantly contributes to the realization of the Government's vision for comprehensive urban health.
