Gram Panchayats are the centres of village administration, development, and health and family welfare, with immense potential to provide decentralized services that can improve the health and well-being of villagers by gauging the public health requirements of rural areas, expanding access to healthcare services, and leveraging community networks to meet the needs of the most vulnerable and unreached populations. It is only when such healthcare services reach the underserved in the rural pockets of the nation that India can hope to reach its goal of reducing the burden of Covid-19, Tuberculosis (TB) and Non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Fortifying rural areas to combat these threats through the empowerment of Gram Panchayats and health functionaries is essential to mitigate existing and emerging threats to the health of people.

Implementation

The Graama Panchayath Arogya Amrutha Abhiyaana (GPAAA), a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country launched by the Government of Karnataka, hopes to usher in new synergy among the Gram Panchayats, communities and the health facilities in rural areas of the state. The program involves the multisectoral coordination of the Karnataka state departments of RDPR, and Health and Family Welfare, in partnership with KHPT, and with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The vision of the GPAAA is to take services to the doorstep of every poor household in rural Karnataka through the close collaboration of Panchayat functionaries such as the
Panchayat Development Officer, members of the newly-established Gram Panchayat Task Force and health services staff from health and wellness centres, such as the ASHA, Middle-level Health Practitioner (MLHP), and ANM. The GPAAA integrates the Covid Muktha Gram Panchayat and Kshaya Muktha Gram Panchayat campaigns with the aim of leveraging the strengths of Panchayats and the frontline workers of the health department to build healthy, TB-free and Covid-free villages.
As a long-term goal, the Panchayats will also address vulnerabilities including NCDs, mental health issues, elimination of child marriages, and malnutrition, among others.

KHPT, with support from USAID, is providing the following support to the Government of Karnataka for implementation of the Abhiyaana in 14 districts; this in alignment with its vision of empowering and promoting health among grassroots communities:

• Distribution of the Gram Panchayat Kit with essential equipment to monitor and manage Covid-19 and other related co-morbidities among populations.
• Training for Panchayat Development officers at block level on the distribution and use of the Panchayat kit and responsibilities in implementing health awareness initiatives at the Gram Panchayat level
• Training through satellite/YouTube mode through SIRD for the Task Force comprised of the Panchayat Development Officer, President, ASHA facilitator, ANM and JNNURM representative
• Collaborating on IEC campaigns that promote Covid-appropriate behaviours and Covid vaccination at the village level
• In the longer term, support health promotion and disease prevention activities that include screening for Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and communicable diseases like TB and linkages to continuum-of-care service packages

More information on the GPAAA can be accessed here: https://www.khpt.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GPAA-Brief-1.pdf

The second wave of COVID was been unprecedented in terms of burden on the health systems and loss of human lives. Many families lost their loved ones and many children were orphaned. Psychological management of the disease, particularly for those affected, is critical to quick and full recovery. This makes it critical to plan for psychosocial first aid in the form of emotional and mental support. Additional focus needs to be given to grief, bereavement, paediatric and geriatric care.

Implementation

KHPT has set up 3 counselling centres in Bengaluru, Mysore and Dharwad with 36 counsellors, with the support of USAID and the Bosch Foundation to support those infected and affected by COVID. The telecounsellors have undergone an intensive training process to equip them with the knowledge and skills to provide mental health support.

KHPT aims to:

• Reach out to COVID patients and help them to tide over their personal challenges, including their mental state, and help them to regain control of their lives
• Provide referrals to patients to reach out to organizations like NIMHANS for exceptional cases
• Disseminate information on Covid-19 including prevention, treatment, and management.
• Address the anxiety quotient amongst healthcare workers and create virtual support networks and circles to address their needs.
• To model the Sahita Careline as an exemplary model for the State Government to scale up.

All information shared during the counselling sessions is kept confidential unless it puts the person or anyone else at risk of harm. If the data shared is used for training or learning purposes, the privacy of all individuals is maintained.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been affecting adolescents directly and indirectly. Many adolescents’ social, emotional, and mental well-being has been impacted by the pandemic. In early 2020, KHPT conducted a cross-sectional survey with adolescent girls in rural Karnataka to understand the impact caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and nationwide lockdown. The findings indicate that adolescent firls faced issues ranging from a lack of essential services and inadequate nutrition to psychological distress. A large number of adolescents have been stranded at home; some had dropped out of school, and were isolated from their peers.

Implementation:

KHPT’s team of 159 frontline workers in Koppal, along with 500 adolescent champions from 51 villages, is actively engaging with frontline workers such as the ASHA, Anganwadi Worker and ANM to meet the needs of over 97000 adolescent in 153 villages in the district.
Project initiatives include:

• Sanitary pad distribution in the 153 villages through Sphoorthi girls.
• Educational support such as tutorial classes, sharing online videos, and solving question papers to help students
• Initiating helpline services and proper counselling support through a professional counsellor
• Distribution of ration kits and provision of nutritious food to persons who are in dire need, or living alone without support, the elderly, and to those in isolation or quarantine.

COVID-19 vaccination rates have been lower in rural areas due to a variety of issues ranging from myths and misinformation about the risks and long-term effects of taking the vaccination, to lack of awareness about vaccination availability and access to healthcare facilities.

KHPT received a grant of Rs 70 lakh from the H T Parekh Foundation for a five-month initiative supporting, mobilising and ensuring that eligible populations receive the COVID-19 vaccination in two blocks of Koppal district in northern Karnataka.

Implementation

KHPT will conduct a village survey to map the vaccinations status of each village, conduct door-to-door mobilizations for vaccinations, and work with the Gram Panchayat Task Force and other village-level health functionaries to ensure that vaccination camps are organized and made accessible to the population eligible for vaccinations.

KHPT will work with village-level health functionaries and the Gram Panchayat Task Forces formed by the Government of Karnataka to strategically organize vaccination campaigns and drives that are accessible to last mile communities.