COVID HELP DESKS OPENED FOR PVTGs IN NIYAMAGIRI HILLS
Badal Tah,Odishabarta
Rayagada:An inaugural ceremony was organised by Child in Need Institute (CINI) in partnership with CSR wing of IndusInd bank Ltd at Khambesi PHC under Bissamcuttack Block with support of Rayagada administration. Sri Tuku Barik, PA, ITDA Rayagada district inaugurated the COVID Sahayata Kendras (CSK or COVID Help desks)with flagging off the mobile awareness vehicle in presence of Dr. Ansuprava Choudhury, Medical Officer, Community Health Centre (CHC) Bissamcuttack, CDPO, Smt. Susila Sabar and Medical officer In-charge Khambesi PHC, Dr. Unnati Rana. Sri. T. Barik, Dr. A. Choudhury, local tribal leader Jitu Jakesika and Sarpanch Ms Drinja Jakesika also distributed wellness, hygiene and kitchen garden kits to the invited families and frontline workers during the inaugural function of CSK at Khambesi PHC.
The second wave of COVID 19 has severely affected people in the state of Odisha. It also affected the particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) residing in the Rayagada district. Unprecedented fear, improper COVID appropriate health and nutrition behaviours and myths amongst the SC, ST and PVTGs has led to multi-fold challenges and complexities for them to fight against the COVID pandemic.
Child in Institute (CINI) in partnership with CSR IndusInd bank Ltd, through its COVID response, has reached out to the underprivileged and vulnerable people in hard to reach areas of Bissamcuttack block of Raygada district with the support of district administration. COVID Sahayata Kendras (CSK or COVID Help desks) at the PHC level along with mobile awareness vehicle are being set up for awareness generation in the community on COVID appropriate behaviours and mobilizing communities for vaccination.
There will be an intensive drive for community campaign with the engagement of ICDS and health frontline workers with the support of PRIs and SHGs for promotion of COVID appropriate behaviours and vaccination drive. The hygiene kits will also be provided to the frontline workers of Bissamcuttack block for safety measure and preventive care.
Following the intensive intervention of CSK, a three years project for “Doorstep care programme for maternal, child, and adolescent health, nutrition for SC-ST population with special focus on PVTGs” will be implemented in Bissamcuttack block with a scale-up plan in other PVTG blocks of Rayagada district.
In this event. Block Programme Manager, NHM Sri. Pravakar Sahoo, Public Health Extension Officer, Smt. Jyoshna Maharana, ICDS Supervisor Smt. Jyoshna Bidika, from IndusInd bank Ltd. Mr. Sunil Kanungo, CFC Rayagada, from CINI Programme Manager Ms Vaishali Goyal, Ms Sradha Das-Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and Sneha Prava Mohapatra-Capacity Building Officer have participated. With the apprehension of a 3rd wave of Covid-19, this kind of initiative in hinterland villages of Niyamagiri hills range has been applauded by the local people.
Child in Need Institute (CINI), a leading Indian NGO established in 1974, working across West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Assam in the eastern region of India, has adopted human rights-based programming with children and adolescents to foster human and social development. Over nearly five decades, CINI has been engaged in participatory, convergent and preventive rights-based programming for women, children, and adolescents in the areas of health, nutrition, education and protection reaching out to 7 million people.
