Rural Community Health Action (RCHA) Programme
A society cannot progress without the good health of its women and children. Recognising this, Sukarya runs the Anemia & Malnutrition Control Programme for Mothers and Children under its RCHA initiative in Haryana and Rajasthan. Covering 30 villages each in Nuh (Haryana) and Tijara (Rajasthan), the project targets women aged 15–49 and children under six, aiming to prevent and reduce anaemia and malnutrition. It focuses on early detection, treatment, and prevention while addressing other causes of maternal and child morbidity through immunisation, improved community-level care, and access to health checkups, vaccines, and essential medicines.
Project Interventions
- Operating a health clinic that offers diagnosis and treatment, ANC/PNC services, medicine distribution, lab tests, counselling, and referrals.
- Facilitating timely immunisation through collaboration with the Government health department and organising Mother & Child Health Days with immunisation camps.
- Promoting better nutrition through supplements, awareness sessions, cooking demonstrations, and personalised dietary counselling.
- Conduct health awareness sessions to encourage positive health-seeking behaviour, covering MCHN, WASH, community health, and local ownership.
- Home visits and follow-ups are carried out by ASHA and AWW workers, trained community health workers, and door-to-door awareness campaigns targeting key groups.
Scope and Reach of Health Clinics
Health clinics are vital in detecting and treating anaemia and malnutrition among mothers and children. We offer basic lab tests for haemoglobin, blood sugar, and blood pressure, monitor height and weight, and provide antenatal and postnatal checkups. We ensure a regular supply of medicines and nutritional supplements. A female MBBS doctor, a counsellor/nutritionist, a lab technician, and a medicine dispenser staff each monthly clinic. Community Health Workers actively engage with target groups, maintain patient records, encourage clinic participation, and conduct follow-up home visits.
Key Interventions for Improved Health & Nutrition Outcomes:
- Cooking demos & nutrition sessions: Encourage healthy, affordable eating using locally available foods, promote good dietary habits, and advocate using iron cookware to combat anaemia.
- Sanitation campaigns: Promote age-appropriate hygiene and sanitation practices while supporting the government’s routine immunisation efforts.
- Boosting immunisation coverage: Through counselling, awareness sessions, and active involvement of Community Health Workers (CHWs), pregnant and lactating women are mobilised to receive government-provided immunisation services. These are synchronised with health clinics to offer integrated care, including promoting colostrum feeding, exclusive/complementary feeding, and institutional deliveries.
- Counselling & IEC materials: Clinics are encouraged to include regular counselling sessions and display strategic IEC materials to reinforce key messages.
- Follow-ups: Consistent home visits and follow-ups by CHWs ensure sustained awareness and community engagement.
