Ensuring equitable primary healthcare across all stages of life requires delivering essential services directly to underserved communities. Under the National Health Mission, Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) serve as an important strategy to bring healthcare services to people’s doorsteps, particularly in rural and vulnerable areas.
Through the Niva Bupa project, MMU ‘Sehat Ki Gadi’ strengthens the continuum of care in Haryana’s Gurugram, Pataudi, Sohna and Farrukhnagar by providing a comprehensive package of primary healthcare, including maternal, child, adolescent, reproductive, and diagnostic services. Regular health camps further support prevention, early detection, and management of conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and anaemia. All services are provided free of cost, with referrals facilitated for advanced treatment when required.
The intervention also focuses on awareness generation, preventive care, and menstrual hygiene promotion among adolescents to improve overall wellbeing. Community engagement through ASHAs and local promote positive health-seeking behaviour, and strengthen linkages with government health schemes. IEC activities including distribution of posters and pamphlets further raise awareness on RMNCH+A, menstrual hygiene, nutrition, and family planning.
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.
