Social and Cultural Ativities under taken by Community Health Care Department
1. Dohale Jevan (Baby Shower Ceremony)
2. Ante natal mothers gathering (ANC Melava)
3.Post natal – mother and child gathering (PNC Melava)
4. Daughter in law and mother in law gathering (Sasu – Suun Melava)
5. Newly married couple gathering (Nav Vadu – Var Melava)
7. Anganwadi Sevika’s (Health Workers) Melava
Dohale Jevan (Baby Shower Ceremony) -
With an aim to elicit the community participation of ANC mothers and spreading awareness amongst them, a unique initiative was required. Rural women in general are skeptical about coming to tertiary care institutions. This fear psychosis needs to be dealt with if their participation is to be ensured. Keeping the above objective in mind a special initiative of Dohale Jevan (Baby Shower) was introduced under the guidance and leadership of Dr Suvarna Patil (Medical Director – BKL Walawalkar Hospital) in collaboration with the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. All pregnant women registered in anganwadis who had completed 7 months of gestation were invited to a special program of baby showers at BKL Walawalkar hospital’s recreation hall. This traditional function included songs and traditional dances along with various customs like bangle filling and giving blessing to the pregnant women and the unborn child.
Ante natal mothers gathering (ANC Melava) -
ANC period is one of the important life event for the mother, unborn child and for the entire family. A concept of a healthy mother giving birth to a healthy child is well known to all. Early registration of ANC mothers along with their periodic medical examination helps in early detection of danger signs and course of treatment. Preventive measures like iron, folic acid, calcium, Inj Tetanus Toxoid can then be started. Thus the ANC melava in which all ANC mothers are invited to hospital assumes importance. Emphasis is given on topics like Diet during pregnancy, ANC exercises, preparation for delivery, healthy mental and emotional atmosphere at home, role of husbands in ANC period etc. to name a few.
Post natal – mother and child gathering (PNC Melava) -
This was arranged so as to enroll the post natal lactating mothers and their infants in the programme. A periodic watch on the infant at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year can thus be ensured. This helps in early detection of malnutrition and other serious diseases and helps to reduce the mortality. Along with the medical conditions, awareness regarding exclusive breast feeding, immunization, new born care, post delivery contraception is imparted to them. The workshop is follwed by an Under 5 clinic in which these infants are medically checked and treatment/ counselling is given to the mothers if necessary.
Daughter in law and mother in law gathering (Sasu – Suun Melava) -
In the Indian scenario the mother-in law and husbands are the main decision makers for the pregnant women. With most of the husbands working in the cities, the mother in law assumes a pivotal role. It is the mother in law who most often decides where, how and at what times would the pregnant woman get her medical check-ups. The place of delivery is also decided by them. Thus, to influence these mother in laws and also to establish a healthy, cordial relation between the daughter in laws and mother in laws, a Sasu – Suun Melava is arranged by BKL Walawalkar Hospital.
Newly married couple gathering (Nav Vadu – Var Melava) -
Marriage is said to be the beginning of a new life for the couple. Arranged marriages are often the norm in rural India. Many a times the couples do not get a chance to interact before the marriage. A lot of personal, social and medical issues need to be counselled to these newly married couples. Keeping this in mind, a newly married couple melava is arranged in which issues regarding conception, ANC care, trust amongst the couple, importance of folic acid and prevention of congenital abnormalities is discussed.
The concept of giving love and education to the unborn child was known in the ancient times but somehow got lost with the advent of modern medicine. The story of Abhimanyu is well known to all who had imbibed the knowledge of war plan while he was still in-utero. This ancient knowledge is now proved and supported by modern science too. The unborn child has a very active right brain which can absorb information while the child is in-utero i.e. still to be born. Thus the technique of Garbha Sanskar stimulates the unborn child by various techniques like visualization, music, communication and giving love and energy to it. A garbha – sanskar shibir is arranged for ANC mothers to introduce this concept to them and emphasise the need of positive thinking during pregnancy, while in labour and after the birth of the baby.
Anganwadi Sevika’s (Health Workers) Melava -
Anganwadi Sevikas constitute the pillar of ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme) programme. In order to empower these sevikas with knowledge, life skills and to motivate them, Anganwadi Sevika Melavas are arranged on a periodic basis. These events consist of workshops on motivational skills, communication and leadership skills, team work, adolescent health, under 6 children, ANC mothers and other topics of day to day importance. Till date more than 2000 Anganwadi Sevikas have benefited from these workshops. A total of 317 Anganwadi Sevikas have undergone free medical screening, diagnosis and treatment in various OPDs till date.
The Indian democracy at grass root level is constituted by a locally elected council known as Gram Panchayat. This council consists of a president known as sarpanch who is democratically elected. The word Gram Panchayat comes from Gram – Meaning a village and Panchayat – Meaning Council of 5 Members. The word Sarpanch comes from Sar – Meaning Head and Panch – Meaning five i.e. the person heading the five member council of a village. The bureaucrat in gram panchayat is known as a gram sevak who is a government officer. The gram panchayat is entrusted with powers for local planning and implementation of various social and public health programmes. Thus the sarpanch becomes an important stake holder at village level. Most of the times he/ she is an influential person of the village and the villagers follow his/her directives.
Keeping this in mind the community health department of BKL Walawalkar Hospital arranged a workshop for sarpanch of various villages so that they may be made aware of various services provided by hospital and inturn they may impart the knowledge to the villagers. The Aim was to create health awareness amongst villagers regarding tertiary care institutions. This would inturn improve their health seeking behaviour in general.