Global Fund To Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM)

VHAA is implementing the GFATM project - Intensified Malaria Control Programme (IMCP II) in 3 districts of Assam namely Chirang, Goalpara and Kokrajhar and is responsible for the field level implementation of the programme.

Project goal :-

To reduce malaria related mortality and morbidity in project areas by at least 30% by 2015 as compared to 2008.

Project Strategies :-

• Prevention :
  
  • LLIN Distribution (Long Lasted Insecticide Net)
  • IRS
    
    
• Early Diagnosis & Complete Treatment :-
  • Rapid Diagnosis Test (RDT) Kit
  • ACT (Artimisinine Combined Treatment)

• BCC(Behavioral Change Communication)
  • Rapport Building
  • Miking
  • Infotainment
  • IPC
  • Community Message Dissemination
  • (VI)Local School Programme

• Monitoring and Evaluation

• Coordination and Partnership Development

• Capacity Building

Regional Resource Centre (RRC) for Mother NGOs

The Regional Resource Centres (RRCs) have been set up across the country with the objective of providing assistance and support for a range of programme management and technical intervention areas to the State NGO Committee, Mother NGOs/Field NGOs and Service NGOs.

VHAA started formally functioning as a Regional Resource Centre (RRC) since 2005 and continued its activities and programmes, in keeping with the main objectives of an RRC covering the eight NE states in the region (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura & Sikkim).

VHAA has been selected as RRC to cater to all NE states including Sikkim. Keeping in view the prime mandate i.e. enhancement of technical and programmatic capacity of selected NGOs in implementing RCH (Reproductive Child Health) intervention. RRC, VHAA’s line of activities can broadly be categorized in to the following:

• Capacity building component
• Supportive supervision
• Appraisal of new NGOs
• Coordination with concerned State health department
• Monitoring and evaluation

VHAA is basically undertaking capacity building of the MNGOs and their FNGOs in all the 8 states. It also conducts various projects and programme in collaboration with the respective state health departments, NRHM and other stake holders involved in the MNGO scheme.

VHAA as an RRC is instrumental in regular liaisoning and advocating between the respective state governments and MNGOs for facilitating the smooth and effective implementation of the programme.

VHAA provides is feedback on quarterly MIS to all MNGOs which helps them to analyse the progress and plan for next quarter. Observing the gap in tracking drop outs in accessing basic services, RRC designed Two cards “MatriSuraksha” & “Sishu Suraksha” easy to use cards and shared with MNGOs  so that they can maintain case to case profile of target population and follow up to do the needful. RRC has been involved in evaluation of MNGOs in Assam by the Mission office, NRHM and submitted observations and recommendations to State NGO coordinator. So far, other states are doing it on their own and RRC’s support has not been sought.

Tobacco Control

I: PAT and APPLE (Partnership Against Tobacco & Action for Policies,
Politics, Legislation and Execution)

Tobacco is one of the greatest emerging health disasters in human history. It is the second major cause of death and single, largest, man -made, preventable cause of disease in the world. In order to protect the youth, masses and women from the adverse harmful effects of tobacco use and second hand smoke, the Parliament enacted the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA). From the year 2007 onwards, VHAA in partnership with Voluntary Health Association of Assam(VHAA) started implementing the PAT & APPLE Project to initiate a strong, structured and participatory campaign for tobacco control. The main objective of the programme is to bring about increased visibility and mass awareness generation at the state and district level on the tobacco control laws.

The objectives of the project are:

• Create Smoke Free Public Places/Cities/Districts.
• Create Tobacco free education institution by strengthening the enforcement of COTPA section-6.
• Improved Enforcement monitoring and compliance of Tobacco Control Laws.
• Strengthened and capacitated civil society to support and sustain the tobacco control efforts.

II: Comprehensive and High-level advocacy for Integrated Approach to Tobacco Control and Implementation of COTPA

As per the Indian Constitution, Health and Police are subjects under the State lists, meaning thereby that by and large, the State governments are empowered to take action on these two subjects. This is one of the foremost reasons behind the inadequate compliance level of the Indian tobacco control law on the ground despite several initiatives taken by the Union government, including enactment of the COTPA. High-level advocacy with the MPs, MLAs and senior bureaucrats of the concerned ministries is required at the State level to bring about substantive and long-term changes at the policy level. This should be supported by the district-level advocacy along with grass-root interventions to harness the deliverables of the policy action. The two main objectives of the project are:

• Comprehensive implementation of all the COTPA provisions on smoke free, pack warning, sale to and by minors, sale within 100 yards of educational institutions and advertising ban.
• Increase, regulate and impose taxes on all tobacco products.

Malaria Niyantran Abhiyan

The Malariya Niyantran Abhiyan (Malaria Control Programme), a project being implemented by VHA of Assam which is supported by SC Johnson Product Private Limited. The project has been implemented in seven villages of the Panikhaiti Mini PHC under Kamrup (Metro) district. The objectives of the Malaria Control Programme are:

• Prevention of death due to malaria.
• Prevention of morbidity due to malaria
• Maintenance of ongoing socioeconomic development.

One more Malariya Niyantran Abhiyan (Malaria Control Programme) has been implemented in the Jyotinagar area in the Guwahati city by VHA of Assam. The objectives of the Malaria Control Programme are:

• To set up a free Health check up facility to Increase access and ensure promotion of health status of community people.
• Creation of an info share exchange for adolescent & youth to ensure their participation in development.
• To mobilize women and youth forum for promotion of responsible Citizenship.