The morbidity and mortality associated with diarrheal diseases continue to plague the developing countries on a massive scale. We have been implementing a community based health project in the poorest villages of India and Nepal since 1992. The program has had major impact resulting in dramatic declines in incidence of water-borne diseases, decline in associated mortality and morbidity and has increased child survival.
The environmental health education as an integral part of the program has helped increase the knowledge and awareness of health and hygiene from 15% to 68% and increased safe and hygienic practices from 18% to 76%; the resources developed for water and sanitation have increased access to water and sanitation from 16% to 70%; training in Oral Rehydratiopn Therapy (ORT) has increased the number of mothers trained in ORT from 0% to 20%; diarrheal diseases have declined by 78%; water-borne diseases have declined by 89%; diarrheal disease management practices along with all other interventions combined have increased child survival by 29%.
The lessons learnt from our project have shown that to attain and sustain this level of success takes several years of continuous and intensive focus upon the same target population, and an intersectoral, grassroots level programmatic approach. The project has improved the quality of life at both an individual level as well as community level.
Keywords: India, International Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.