Poor health is a concern that can be ebbed with community based health care and management systems

Health and health care remains a big issue for rural communities in India. Killer diseases like T.B., Malaria, enteric fevers and diarrhoea continue to claim many lives each year and leave many people physically debilitated. These communities also have no access to health care. Cleanliness and sanitation is another issue in rural areas. Government programmes dealing with this issue do not reach many villages and NGO’s are left to ensure that training, awareness and facilities reach the remotest of corners. Women’s health problems also need to be addressed with greater urgency. In India, some studies have shown that only one in two women seeks treatment for illnesses, primarily because the nearest health service is too far away or too expensive.

On the other hand, India also has the world’s largest community-based traditional systems of medicine. These systems are more accessible, do not have side effects and are also less expensive (as compared with modern health care facilities) and hence need to be revived and promoted. 

HIV/AIDS and its increasing incidence in India are taking on epidemic proportions. The HIV/AIDS infected/affected people are socially discriminated and economically marginalised. There are cases of HIV infected people being refused treatment by doctors and hospitals refusing to admit patients. Children or relatives of infected persons are often denied admission to schools. Basic human rights like livelihood and freedom of association are denied.

Increase the outreach of health care facilities Build awareness on health and related issues Train health workers to provide better service to a community Provide health care especially for women, children and HIV/AIDS infected persons Check the spread of the AIDS and HIV through awareness programmes Rehabilitate and re-integrate those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS Build capacities and skills for alternative livelihood Promote traditional systems of medicine Activate the government health system through lobbying, advocacy and people’s participation