Mahila Shanti: access to health for all #3

Mahila Shanti's goal is to create a health and medical coverage by involving women in particular, in a region without doctors and where superstition is very present. In the Gumla region of India, there is still too little knowledge of sanitary and medical measures and too much mortality, especially in childbirth. By their place in the social structure of the village and by the education of their children, women allow the transmission and the assurance of a long-term change. "Mahila" in Hindi means "Lady" in English, "Shanti" in Hindi means "Peace" in English. Together, let's participate in the change by financing the trainings; let's support the 3rd year of this project! (a tax receipt will be issued and sent to each doner for the tax deduction) The project today (September 2024) Result 1 100% the 650 adolescent girls in the project villages attend the weekly class and are aware of their health needs. The rules of hygiene are understood and put into practice. Result 2 45 of the 90 trained health promoters are active and able to make diagnoses (fever, malaria, low and high blood pressure, colds, snakebite injuries, etc.), suggest treatments and refer those with unknown or more serious symptoms to hospital. Their regular exchanges and monthly reports have led to a steady reduction in illnesses and mortality rates in the villages and improved access to medicines, resulting in a visible improvement in health standards. Cases of malaria are reduced from 60% also with the increased use of mosquito nets. 50% of medicinal herbs come from villagers' gardens and the forest. Result 3 The 65 registered women have been trained and are now active midwives: they have established links of trust in the various villages. They regularly visit pregnant women and help them to get their regular control at the hospital. Their advice on pre- and post-natal care has led to a marked improvement in the health of mothers and babies. Result 4 The 37 dispensaries are visited regularly and share information on the health problems encountered in the region. The trimonthly contact with public hospitals and local authorities supports the ongoing training and ensures vitamin supplies. Result 5 100% of the nurses attend the meetings and gain confidence: they share the situations they came across to find solutions together. 80% of medicine stocks are supplied and stocks of medicinal plants are maintained, including the organisation of seasonal plants. 80% of the population trusts the nurses' advice and treatment. The project in detail Since 1992, 37 health centers have been set up in this region. In recent years, training in the villages to raise awareness of hygiene has shown that training supported by a medical structure has positive and lasting consequences on the quality of life of the inhabitants. In this region, the population is 90% tribal (Oraons and Kharias) and 10% of lower Hindu castes (iron workers, potters, cattle herders). The families are made up of 6 to 7 people on average and live mainly from rice cultivation. 135 villages and 27,000 villagers are concerned. Here are the different sides of the project, which would begin at the end of the campaign 1- Training of 650 adolescent girls from 6 different colleges on health and medical topics so that they have the necessary information to take responsibility in their lives and in their villages. 2- Training of 90 village health promoters. They are selected by the villagers and chosen for their commitment and sense of service. They will have monthly meetings at the nearest dispensary to report on the health and medical conditions of their village. 3- Training of 60 midwives. They will visit and follow up pregnant women medically and humanely. 4- The collaboration of the 37 dispensaries of the region. The nurses will have meetings every 2 months to share information on the problems encountered, to analyze the situation regularly and to find solutions together to local health or medical problems. The stocks of medicines will be controlled. 5- Regular visits by nurses to the patients who will have the necessary medication and will be reported in case of aggravation of their condition. Nurses will be reassured of their commitment to provide care in a humane and charitable manner. At the end of this project, the villages will be able to be completely autonomous and organize the necessary training and monthly meetings themselves. Other villages may also be inspired to adopt these changes :) The cost of this project is 32'000€. To optimize the chances of success, we are stagging the project on 3 years and are continuing the fundraising to finance the 2nd year of the project. Website: https://mahilashanti.github.io/mahilashanti/index.html

The origins of the project My name is Soline, I am French and I live in Switzerland. My great-uncle Marc was a Jesuit in the region of Gumla in India, where he founded an organisation to support the villages. A couple of years ago he talked to me about this project of education and empowerment of women to give them more place in the villages. In June 2021 and in December 2022, thanks to you, we have collected to finance the 1st and 2nd year of the project: again a BIG THANK YOU! In March 2022, he left us after reiterating his confidence in the teams to continue this and other projects. Sister Anna and Father Arvind and their teams have taken charge of Mahila Shanti and provide regular updates. Last year I went to visit the teams in the Gumla region with my sister Ivanne: it was a wonderful trip and the opportunity to talk to the people involved in the project. It gives me great pleasure to confirm that this project is moving in the right direction and that the health and quality of life of the villagers continues to improve!