The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #58791

Siddharth Agarwal, Dr, USAID/EHP India, F9/4 Poorvi Marg, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi, 110057, India and Eckhard Kleinau, Dr PH, MD, Environmental Health ProjectII (EHP), 1611 N. Kent St., Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22209, (703) 247-8730, KleinauEF@EHProject.org.

The paper focuses on developing partnership models for improving key child health indicators in the slums of a mid-sized Indian city; the consultative learning process; and lessons learned. The program is presented with a multiplicity of stakeholders working independently, with little co-ordination, sometimes duplicating services, and in most cases not serving the most needy. Slum visits and a series of 6 workshops with primary and secondary stakeholders were held over 2 months. Results: The vulnerable populations were identified and geographically mapped. It was noted that increased utilisation of existing health service delivery channels could be achieved by using grassroots organisations, who emerged as important stakeholders. A complementarity of skills, knowledge, experience and reach among various service providers was also noted. The idea of partnering and alliances also emerged. Possible models include e.g. NGO-CBO partnerships; a Ward level core group model; and a city-level alliance of partners. The process helped in understanding the capabilities and potential of organisations, as well as identifying champions for the program. The process facilitated: evolution of partnering arrangements; building ownership of program objectives; the filtering-out of opportunistic organisations more interested in funding than program objectives; a collective ownership among public and NGO sectors about the importance of targeting vulnerable slums and thus helped target resources optimally; both the program team and stakeholders to understand the issues from several viewpoints, and develop feasible and effective plans; capacity-building of primary and secondary stakeholders; establishment of a city-wide Urban Health Forum.

Learning Objectives:

• The audience will acquire an understanding of the processes involved and lessons learned in identifying urban child health stakeholders, and in building partnerships among them for delivering health care to underserved urban populations.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.