CARE looks forward to successful collaboration with the Government of Bihar

New Delhi and Patna, January 10, 2011: Dr. Helene D. Gayle, President and CEO of the International NGO CARE and Chair and Chair of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, on her maiden visit to Bihar met with Hon’ble Minister of Health Ashwani Chaube, Government of Bihar (GOB). In the meeting, Dr. Gayle lauded the efforts of the Bihar State Government to bring progress to the state especially improve the state of maternal and child health.

“All the essential factors for the development of the state are in place. The Government has demonstrated real commitment to improve the status of mother and child. This level of state commitment is very encouraging as CARE looks forward to a close partnership with the Government to implement two big projects to improve maternal and child health,” said Dr. Helene Gayle.

Hon’ble Minister of Health Ashwani Chaube, recognised CARE’s contribution to the state of Bihar for the last three decades. He appreciated CARE’s partnership and the value it brings through expertise in health & nutrition and community mobilisation. He assured Dr. Helene Gayle of the Government’s full support to CARE in its endeavours.

Shri Amarjeet Sinha, Principal Secretary- Health, Government of Bihar (GOB) and Dr. N. Vijayalakshmi, Director Integrated Child Development Services (GOB) were also present in the meeting.

Earlier in the day, Dr. Gayle visited a Public Health Centre (PHC) in Maner block to understand the facilities offered as well the coverage of health care services. She met a mother and a newborn at the PHC. The woman had delivered in a health facility fort he first time. Earlier her two older children had been born at home. The local ASHA was responsible for bringing the woman to the PHC for delivery. The woman is eligible to avail the benefits available under the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) which are regularly distributed at the Maner block PHC for all institutional deliveries.

Her second stop of the day was Village Talihari were she met a women’s collective supported by the Women Development Corporation, GOB. The women shared how their lives have changed after becoming members of the collective. They said they can now talk about the issues that affect them even in front of men. They have grown in understanding of issues related to their self, livelihoods, health & nutrition and hygiene. They have availed of government sanitation schemes to build free latrines. They were able to do this only after understanding hygiene and its effect on health.

“I am very pleased to see that women have come together in a collective and can depend on each other’s support. They are taking charge of their health and are on the way to lead empowered lives,” said Dr. Gayle.

Dr. Gayle was accompanied by Dr. Mohammad Musa, CEO of CARE India, R.N. Mohanty, Chief Operating Officer CARE India, Ms. Alka Pathak, Chief Advocacy and External Relations Officer, Sujeet Ranjan, Bihar State Director, CARE India and Mukesh Kumar, Team Leader, BHSR.

CARE has launched SWASTH, a Bihar Health Sector Reform to facilitate the development of a comprehensive public health system, a nutrition policy and build the capacity of Health, Social Welfare and Public Health Engineering departments. The other big project is Integrated Family Health Initiative supported the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to improve the delivery of health care services to reduce the maternal, neonatal and child mortality.

CARE is a humanitarian organisation working in India since 1950. CARE India is an affiliate member of the CARE International Confederation based in Geneva. By developing the potential of women and girls, CARE helps millions of people effect real, positive changes in their lives, every year. Our relief and development programme addresses the needs and interests of millions of disadvantaged women and girls. We provide improved access to health, education and sustainable livelihoods in ten Indian states.

Media Contacts:

Bihar:

Sujeet Ranjan, State Director Bihar,

sranjan@careindia.org

Mobile: 9431176258

Mon, 01/10/2011 - 00:00 by admin 0