5 districts of West Bengal Child In Need Institute Strengthening VHSNC through Community Health Care Management Initiative (CHCMI) programme in 5 districts of West Bengal Jalpaiguri North Dinajpur Malda Child In Need Institute www.cini-india.org Murshidabad South 24 Pgs.

CHCMI Programme (2010-13) Objective Coverage Coverage of primary immunization Identification of left outs/drop outs Promotion of personal hygiene Supplementary feeding Regular weighing and referral to AWC South 24 Parganas (Population covered: 71,80,000 out of Total population 81,61,961*) Murshidabad (Population covered: 44,30,000 out of total population 71,03,807*) Malda (Population covered: 18,76,000 out of total Population 39,88,845*) North Dinajpur (Population covered: 11,50,000 out of total population 30,07,134*) Jalpaiguri (Population covered: 25,84,000 out of total Population 38,69,675*) * Census 2011 Total Population covered in 5 districts : 1,72,20,000 out of 2,61,31,422

Strategies Preparatory Phase Training of staff (ToT) District wise stock taking on VHSNC formation, UC collection, etc. Preparation of training plan and module (for the grass root level) Sensitisation phase District, Block and GP sensitization GUS orientation Facilitation Phase GUS formation (where ever not formed) SHG selection (as per guideline) Regularize convergence meetings & Health plan preparation Utilisation Certificate collection (2007- 2010) Implementation Phase Training & Handholding Support to SHGs in 3 phases 1st Phase (Baseline survey) 2nd Phase (Compilation & prioritization) 3rd phase ( Specific plan) Supervision Evaluation of performance of SHG/ GUS

Intervention & Progress Time line Activities performed 1st Year 5 District sensitization 72 Block Sensitisation 759 GP sensitization 8610 GUS orientation Formation of Ad hoc committee where ever GUS was non functional 2nd Year 3 phased SHG training for 8610 SHGs 1st Phase (Baseline survey) 2nd Phase (Compilation & prioritization) 3rd phase ( Specific plan) 3rd Year Sansad level sensitization End line Assessment

Contribution of SHGs in CHCMI SHGs coordinated with ASHA & AWW in identification of left out and drop out women for ANC-PNC, and children for immunization, SNP, Growth Monitoring & enrollment in AWC SHGs as representing beneficiaries, acted as link person between service providers & community Advocated for rights & entitlements of health as well as creates demand

Achievement VHSNC formation SHG selection and Capacity Building Regularization of 4th Saturday meting Regularization of 2nd Tuesday meeting SHG payment Fund Utilization & UC collection Preparation of Micro Health Plan (2012-13)

Nutrition Camp Dist. Sensitization SHG Para meeting SHG Training GUS Sensitization

Ensuring Child and Woman Friendly Community PRI/ULB Community Service Provider Government withdrawn the support of CINI for CHCMI Programme after 2013, but the learning of the programme enriched CINI to continue other programme with an objective to make a ‘Child and Woman Friendly Community’ by utilizing the same machinery (Self Help Groups) to scale-up ‘Community action for Health’.

Challenges In Many places VHSNCs were not formed Faced prerequisite urgency to utilize untied fund at GUS SHGs involved in the CHCMI since 2004-05, required reorientation on content Difficult to sensitise few key officials at various levels Political disturbances at places disrupted fund flow and selection of suitable SHGs Embargo during election (March-June’11) hindered work progress