Church workers transforming rural health care in the North

New Delhi: Volunteers that help run the Church of North India's (CNI) community health programme are improving healthcare in the villages in which they work, the Synodical Board of Health Services newsletter reported.

The immunisation uptake of under–fives in the areas in which community health volunteers (CHVs) work is 100 per cent. Almost all pregnant women come to them for antenatal care and they have intervened in many cases to prevent the termination of a pregnancy. Female infanticide is widespread in India because parents fear having to pay dowry for girls.

Coordinator of the community health programme Blessi Kumar visited the CHVs recently. She said: "It was an interesting and exciting trip to see the community health team in action and how well they are respected by the communities."

The CHVs reputation means that they are the first point of reference for people who want to initiate development or health projects within their communities.

There are 112 CHVs in the Church of North India's (CNI) community health programme, which is administered by the CNI Synodical Board of Health Services. They serve a population of around 80,577 and 112 villages.

By A Correspondent.