| It is a well-known fact
that the government continues to make huge
investments in the Health Sector at the national
and state levels. It has undertaken several
initiatives to improve the availability of,
and access to, quality health care by people,
especially those residing in rural areas,
the poor, women and children.
Despite the gains made, it needs to be
acknowledged that the morbidity and mortality
levels in the country are still unacceptably
high. These unsatisfactory health indices
are an indication of the limited success
of the public health system in meeting the
preventive and curative requirements of
the general population.
Reflecting on the above backdrop, and in accordance
with the recommendations of SP 2000 and SP
2006, the Trust has supported initiatives
in the following areas:
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Community-based initiatives |
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Specialist care
for the disadvantaged |
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Building organisational
capacities |
During 2006-07, the Trust thought it appropriate
to consolidate its grant-making to thematic
areas that are well conceptualised and responsive
to the needs of the sector. Hence, in the
second half of that year, the Trust commissioned
a team of specialists to review the health
portfolio and develop its five-year strategic
plan.
The key objectives of
the assignment were:
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To map the needs of the health sector
at large and to identify the critical
gap areas requiring support. The team
was also to evaluate the health portfolio
in terms of its structure, design, initiatives
/ grants, the relevance of the approach
adopted and overall contribution to
the sector. |
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In light of the
above, the team was to give recommendations
to the Trust to consolidate the present
work, aligning it with the needs of
the sector. They also had to identify
key priority areas where the Trust as
a small, yet significant donor, can
intervene and provide or facilitate
support. They were to suggest an appropriate
management structure and time frame
to implement these ideas. |
To undertake this exercise, the Trust appointed
an experienced team of three professionals,
with Dr Abraham Joseph as team leader, along
with Dr Arvind Kasturi and Ms Priya Anand.
The team suggested the following areas for
support by the Trust over the course of the
next five years:
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Reproductive
and child health: Continue supporting
efforts on reduction of mortality and
morbidity levels of women and children,
population and reproductive rights,
health of adolescents and children,
and efforts related to improving nutrition. |
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Infectious
diseases: Support surveillance
and response to malaria, kala azar,
HIV, encephalitis, hepatitis, tuberculosis,
HIV / AIDS and other emerging infectious
diseases. Efforts related to improving
access to existing vaccines, drugs,
and other tools to fight infectious
diseases, and research to develop health
solutions that are effective, affordable,
and practical should also be supported. |
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Non-communicable
diseases: Health promotion, prevention,
early diagnosis and cost effective treatment
strategies for all non-communicable
diseases including cancer, diabetes,
mental health, substance abuse and accidents
should be supported. Special focus on
mental health and cancer should be laid,
to consolidate the present grant making
of the Trust. |
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Disability:
Emphasise support for screening, early
intervention, and rehabilitation of
the disabled. Provide support to caregivers,
raising awareness in the area of disability
and CBR, making all basic rehabilitation
services available at the community
level. Encourage community-based rehabilitation
of persons with mental disorders and
mental retardation, inclusion of disabled
children in mainstream schools, and
integration of disabled individuals
in mainstream society. |
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Human
Manpower and Health System Development:
Consider supporting innovative health
systems in underserved areas through
training and capacity building of human
resources at various levels. Support
integration of Indian Systems of Medicine,
development of standards and guidelines
in public health, governance, leadership
and institution building, and health
financing. |
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Environment:
Support could also be considered
for efforts to vector control strategies,
water and sanitation, and urban pollution.
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