Mobile Health Care Service

Health Care in the remote and riverine villages of Sunderbans is a perpetual problem over the years. Despite best effort from Government, the health care services could not be made available in all the marooned villages. SHIS under the able leadership of Wohab and Sabitri started grass root level Mobile Health Care Service at the village level and refer the patients to appropriate large hospital. The work was being executed with the sole effort of SHIS.

In recognition to SHIS’s effort, World Bank extended their hands to stand by for this noble activity. SHIS acknowledges with gratitude the assistance rendered by Word Bank through Government of West Bengal Health System Development Project II, without whose active support such a Herculean task could have not been undertaken. A total of Rs. 77 Lacs was utilized for providing Mobile Health care Service in both the districts of 24 Parganas of West Bengal.

Project Achievements in a Nutshell
The project in association with World bank and Government of West Bengal was launched by SHIS in June 2000 in district South 24 Parganas and in April 2001 at District North 24 Parganas. The project became fully functional with in June 2000 and May 2001 respectively with the general as well as well baby clinic, Ante/Post Natal clinic and special clinic being organized successfully as per schedule.

The achievements in a Nut Shell are given below:

  • Comprehensive training of 102 and 65 field workers, placed in the project villages under supervision of Senior Health Workers and Block Coordinators. The training was conducted in SHIS campus at Bhangar in May 2000 and April 2001.
  • General clinics in selected project villages, with support and active participation of the beneficiaries concerned. Against the projected plan of 90 and 75 MHC centres, SHIS covered more than 110 and 80 centres respectively.
  • Formed people’s groups within the community, known as Women’s Health Groups, towards building a comprehensive Disease Surveillance System.
  • Diagnostic and pathological services through mobile boats, including x-ray facility.
  • Transportation of patients from remote riverine villages to PHCs, BPHCs etc. with help of mechanized boats.
  • Special Clinics involving medical specialists on such selected villages/sites offering higher medical support and consultation.
  • Linked all the block-wise clinic head quarters to the project head quarters at SHIS, Bhangar vide wireless communication network.
  • Linkage with Block Medical Officers and Public Health Centers on preventive aspects as well as consultation towards betterment of the project implementation.
  • Developed a simple but comprehensive information management system.

MHCS - Detailed Project Report
Area of coverage in respect of Population and no of villages:
District: South 24 Parganas District North 24 Parganas
Sl. Block No. of
Villages		 Village Population Sl. Block No. of
Villages		 Village Population
1. Canning-I 14 44020 1. Haroa 32 55610
2. Canning-II 11 34429 2. Minakhan 24 85103
3. Namkhana 27 70125 3. Sandeshkhali-II 12 62130
4. Kakdwip 22 60210 4. Hingalgunj 13 47231
5. Patharpratima 37 123480            
   Total 111 332264      Total 81 250074
The project was able to cover 15% more villages and 18% more population than the estimated original figures. In absolute terms, a population of almost 50,000 persons could have the access to quality medical care offered by the project. The MHC services being organized by SHIS is perhaps the largest of such exercises being conducted by NGOs with support from Government of West Bengal, spread over 9 blocks and 192 villages in the district of South and North 24 Parganas under Sunderbans.

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