Strengthening Public Health Services through Evidence-based Practices for saving Maternal & Newborn Lives in Remote Tribal Areas of Chhota Udepur District of Gujarat, India

a) Process of Implementation of the project Identification and capacity building of grassroot functionaries was done so as to deliver safe motherhood and neonatal care services in the communities. Behaviour Change Communication activities were conducted in order to raise awareness regarding danger signs during pregnancy and post- delivery and provision of timely referral services. Emergency Transport facility was established for referral of complicated cases requiring obstetric and new-born care. Strengthening of Government Health Delivery System was done and demand was created for maternal and child health services. Community was mobilized to seek services with the help of village health functionaries (ASHAs, AWWs). b) Reforms made in the project as per need of the communities and our work experience Since the peripheral health centres of the government were not well equipped to conduct institutional deliveries, it was decided to activate Primary Health Centre’s and Sub-Centre’s as a part of the project. During the project implementation, verbal autopsy reports revealed that high percentage of maternal deaths are due to anaemia. Hence, a component of anaemia control was added as a part of the project. When the patients are referred to a tertiary health centre-SSG Hospital, Deepak Foundation found out that there is a lack of reception centre which can guide and support patients and their family to avail the required health services. Hence, Deepak Foundation started Help Desk at SSG Hospital. Since the tribal blocks lacked connection of roads and good transport to reach the nearest hospital, Deepak Foundation initiated Mobile Health Units (MHUs) to reach out to the tribal population who were not able to approach the nearest peripheral health facility.