1. ‘Community Participation in Outreach’*
07/16/96
‘Community Participation in Outreach’
Dr.Thiruvengadakrishnan
Camp Medical Officer
Aravind Eye Care System – India
ARAVIND EYE CARE SYSTEM
A WHO Collaborating Centre for Prevention of Blindness *

2. Benefits of Community Network
Ownership of the programs
Acceptance in the community
Support facilities in camp site
Compliance to treatment
Crisis Management
Image building through Public Relations
Increase in walk-in patients load
Sustainability of the programme

3. Classification of Community Partners
International service organizations
Corporate sectors & Commercial organizations
Educational institutions
Spiritual organizations
Community welfare organizations
Cooperative societies
Individuals

4. Identification Community Partners
Lions, Rotary clubs.. International service organizations
Industries, Banks.. Corporate / Commercial sectors
Schools and Colleges Educational institutions
Religious orgns.like Churches/Mosques Spiritual organizations
NPOs, Hospitals.. Community welfare organizations
Diary, Weavers, Agrarian Unions Cooperative societies
Philanthropists, Traditional Healers, Local leader.. Individuals

5. How did we identify our Community Partners
Walk-in patients those who approached us for donation (satisfied customer is a repeated customer)
External Stakeholders (suppliers…)
Relatives and Friends
Collection of Philanthropists in the community
Display of posters in OPD, Ward and in Camps ‘Grabbing the well wishers’ – ‘YOU CAN GIVE EYE SIGHT TO HUNDREDS’ – Contact Manager

6. Qualities of Community Partners
Self motivated
Interest in welfare of the community
Dedication to community service
Targeting a number of beneficiaries
Knowledge of the rural areas & attitude of the people
Planning and implementing skills
Able to translate our ideas into actions
Local recognition
Financially stable

7. Degree of Involvement by Community

8. Impact of ‘Poor or No’ Community Participation
No long term results
Productivity loss
Poor coverage in reaching the community
Low acceptance rate
Mismatch in utilization of resources
Expensive

9. Impact of Community Participation in Aravind Model (Productivity & Cost)
Surgery Acceptance Rate
Camps by Aravind Pondicherry 2013
Camps Held
289
Outpatients
72534
Cataract advised
22533
Admitted
(81%)
Case Finding Cost (Cataract admission)
Eye care partners
Per Cat. admission
Aravind Eye Hospital (43%)
Rs.110
Community Partner (57%)
Rs.148
Total (100%)
Rs.258

10. Building Community Participation
Sponsors Day’ celebration
Achievement Award to Sponsors
Participation in Community Celebrations/Family function
Sight First Seminars
CME Programs
Training to School Teachers
Training to Field workers of NPOs
Public Awareness Campaign
Mass mailing

11. Sponsors Day – Dr.V’s Address to Sponsors

12. ‘Sponsors Day’ Celebration – Eye Health Education through Quiz program

13. Recognizing sponsors ‘Village Welfare Committee’ T
Recognizing sponsors ‘Village Welfare Committee’ T.Kallupatti on its completion of 100 Eye Screening Camps (every last Saturday)

14. In 100 camps: 15,213 Outpatients and 4,039 Cataract surgeries
Average Admission per camp is 40
Cost spent by the sponsor per camp is around Rs.1100 (25 US$)

15. Recognizing a sponsor ‘Madha Amirthananda Mayi Mutt’ Tirupparankundram on its completion of 100 Eye Screening Camps (every 1st Sunday)
In 100 camps: 20,404 Outpatients and 7,040 Cataract surgeries
Average Admission per camp is 70
Cost spent by the sponsor per camp is around Rs.1900 (45 US$)

16. Issues in Community Participation: Community Perspective
Evading
Least priority
Changing trend in expectations
Cost Factor
Earn a bad image if hospital does poor quality surgery
Time constraint

17. Issues in Community Participation: Provider Perspective
It is unnecessary effort when we can do the work ourselves
The community may request some favors (end up having to do lot of paying patients free)
Image of the provider is spoiled by a bad community partner
Provider does not seek outside involvement in organization activities

18. Trends in Community Participation: Community Perspective
External certification of quality looking at softer parameters like contribution back to society
Corporate Social Responsibility and the increasing trend of corporate to be wanting to contribute back to society
With economy booming there must be more people who must be philanthropic in mind
Aging population:
More people retiring and still wanting to contribute to society so potential is there to utilize them as volunteers
They are eager to know about advancements in general health care

19. Trends in Community Participation: Service Provider Perspective
Litigious society (helps in crisis management)
Resource scarcity
Motivated patients are a great source of ambassadors for the hospitals
Sustainability

20. Outreach 1: Screening Eye Camp
Participation by: Lions Clubs – Rotary Clubs – Community based Service Organizations, Industries, Banks, Merchants, Religious Orgns., Charitable Trusts, Youth Wing, Farmers Associations, Individuals…
Camp site location
Work with community leaders
Support facilities
Medical team hospitality
Logistics
Organization cost

21. Outreach 2: School Children Screening
Participation by: District Education Officer, School Management, Principal/Headmaster, Teachers and Parents
Arrange for Teachers training
Work schedule of the whole process
Pre-screening of defective students
Support facilities
Hospitality
Motivating Parents
Follow up

22. Outreach 3: Diabetic Retinopathy Awareness Program
Participation by: Any kind of social service organization in the community, Private Practitioners, Diabetologist, Bio-Chemistry lab owners..
Camp site location
Work with community leaders and Doctors
Clinical examinations
Support facilities
Medical team hospitality
Logistics
Organization cost

23. Outreach 4: Refraction Services
Participation by: Mills, Industries, Corporate Offices, Banks, Government Offices, Transport department and so on
Work with group of employees and scheduling
Medical team hospitality
Support facilities for examinations
Arrangement to supply the spectacles
Follow up
Organization cost

24. Outreach 5: Paediatric Eye Screening Camp
Participation by: Any kind of social service organization in the community, Private Practitioners, Paediatricians, Primary Health Centre
Camp site location
Work with other NGOs, Anganwadi workers, Health Department Nurses, PHC Ophthalmic Assistant, Local Maternity Centers and Paediatricians
Support facilities for Clinical examinations
Medical team hospitality
Logistics
Organization cost

25. Challenges Identify right people in terms of
Background, Attitude, Recognition and Resources
How to make them realized & convinced
How to divert other NGOs into eye care
Parallel guidance in implementation
How to keep them as a satisfied customer
Feed back, Transparency, Response to referrals, Social get together, Sponsors Day etc.

26. Conclusion The onus is on us to leverage community participation
We have to develop our capacity to identify right community partner and build and maintain relationships with them
Let us identify the best practices which can make this a reality

27. Thank you