Mental Health Program

Mental diseases are still considered as a matter of witchcraft in rural India. The patients are looked down upon and are kept isolated from the rest of the family and society. They are considered as a burden to the family. With little awareness of mental diseases and no proper intervention from government the patients lead a pitiful life. In Jharkhand state; there is only one mental health hospital where the villagers cannot visit due to unawareness, inaccessibility and un affordability. With the support from Basic Needs, UK; Stri Shakti has been able to educate the villagers about mental diseases and has convinced them to attend the monthly health camp being organized in the NBJK premises on every last tuesday of the month. The camp is organized with the support of RINPAS ( Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry & Allied Sciences). Besides regular diagnosis and treatment they also provide free medication to the patients.

The Program is very helpful and many people have benefited from it. The details are as such:

Adolescent Health Program

In a rural set-up; adolescent girls till date unaware of the health and hygiene measures they should undertake to keep themselves healthy and fit. Many girls  face problems in their health related issues due to unawareness and lack of knowledge. The rural girls are not informed about proper hygiene and sanitation practices in general and specially during menstruation, the epidemic diseases and also reproductive and sexual health practices.

Understanding the need, Stri Shakti formed 20 groups of adolescent girls comprising of 10-15 girls each where they meet monthly and are informed on several topics like importance and cleanliness and sanitation in our lives, hygiene practices during menstruation, importance of sanitary napkins, reproductive and sexual health, HIV/AIDS. The girls groups are guided by the lady project staff  whom they are comfortable to and discuss their problems.

A one day training was organized with the kind support of Nirnaya where the girls where educated on the most important topic “Health and Hygiene during Menstruation” a discussion was organized in the Saraswati Girls High School on 22nd January, 2014. The girls were educated on menstrual hygiene and sanitation and its importance in day-to-day lives. The training was given by Sahiya Supervisor Lalita Devi and Anganwadi Sevika Devanti Devi.

Mother and Child Health

Rural women are unaware of the health measures needed for sound health of mother and child. Hence, to reduce the number of casualties taking place due to unawareness and illiteracy; Stri Shakti with the support of " Bread for the World", started the initiative to create awareness and organize the villagers and their efforts so they can avail the benefits meant for them.

Stri Shakti helps villagers of Hazaribag Sadar Block in receiving knowledge and accessing benefit of those programs. It also takes the issue of self-employment, preventive health care and entitlements from government funded welfare schemes, as these are some of the important tools to promote a just society.

The Achievements in the reporting period is as under-