In rural areas of India, access to basic necessities like clean water, adequate sanitation facilities and nutritious food is challenging, and children often bear the brunt of this. The lack of these necessities makes them vulnerable to various health issues, adversely affecting their overall well-being.
To address this issue, Ekam Foundation Mumbai, in collaboration with Lalitya Foundation, conducted its School Health Programme in five rural schools in Kolhapur district. The programme aimed to increase awareness about health and hygiene among school children and create visibility of Ekam Foundation Mumbai’s work among the grass-root community of rural areas in Kolhapur district.
The programme was held from 25th January to 5th February 2023 in Asegaon, Kale, Kolhapur. Dr. Nair, Medical Director of Ekam Foundation Mumbai, Ameeta Chatterjee, Managing Trustee of Ekam Foundation Mumbai, and team members Supriya, Priya, Shailesh, Jayesh, and Swapnil attended the programme. Lalitya Foundation trustee Mr Prasad and volunteers Supriya, Jagruti, Kavita, Naveen Raja, and Sai Prasad also participated in the programme.
The Lalitya Foundation team conducted the sessions with technical support and observation from the Ekam Foundation Mumbai team. The programme reached around 1200 children across five schools in Kolhapur and covered five subjects: toilet etiquettes, safe drinking water, hand washing, oral hygiene, and nutrition. The sessions were interactive and pictorial, and successfully engaged the children while teaching them about the issues. During the sessions, Ekam Foundation Mumbai’s team interacted with the school principals, provided information about the NGO’s work and shared a helpline number. After the sessions, badges of health and hygiene were distributed to the children to promote awareness about the programme.
The programme helped children develop healthy, hygiene and nutrition habits, and its impact was not limited to the children but also helped their families. Principals and teachers of the schools also appreciated the programme and provided good cooperation.
In addition to the School Health Programme, a mobile van health checkup camp was also conducted in Asegaon Kale area from 27th January 2022 to 5th February 2023, reaching around 1700 people, including children and senior citizens. The camp saw cases related to body aches, weakness, cough and cold, fever, dental problems, headaches, fungal infections, etc. The mobile van health checkup camp helped people in rural areas receive primary healthcare services and the necessary medical attention.
The collaboration between Ekam Foundation Mumbai and Lalitya Foundation is an excellent example of how organisations can work together to address the needs of the most vulnerable sections of society. Such collaborations bring in more resources, expertise, and experience, which can significantly enhance the impact of such initiatives. Moreover, initiatives like the School Health Programme and the mobile van health checkup camp can help bridge the gap between urban and rural healthcare services.
