|
|
SEWA - Supportive Services
Health
Care at SEWA
SEWA
has helped its members obtain health care which is run by women
themselves. Our approach emphasizes health education as well as
curative care. It also involves coordination and collaboration
with government health services for immunization, micronutrient
supplementation, family planning, tuberculosis control and referal
care at public hospitals, dispensaries and primary health centers.
SEWA's
Approach to Health Security: Key Elements
Linking
health security to work security which means that
all economic activities at SEWA have a health component
and all health action, in turn, is linked to producer's
groups, workers' trade committees and self-help groups
and their economic activities.
Capacity-building
of local women especially traditional midwives, so
that they become the barefoot doctors of their communities/villages.
Women-centered
health care led by local women, including occupational
health, reproductive health, maternal health, mental
health and nutrition.
Addressing
common health problems like tuberculosis among poor
families.
Promotion
of health and well-being by providing access to health
information and health education.
Linking
health services to insurance, provision of basic amenities
like sanitation literacy and other developmental programmes.
Emphasizing
self-reliance both in economic terms and in terms
of women themselves owning, controlling and managing
their own health activities.
|
SEWA Promoted Midwives' & Health Cooperatives
- Shri
Swashrayi Mahila Lok Swasthya Co-op. Ltd.
(Ahmedabad District & City)
- Shri
Krishna Dayan Co-op. Ltd.
(Gandhinagar District)
- Shri
Swashrayi Mahila Shramshakti Dayan Co-op. Ltd.
(Kheda District)
- Shri
Swashrayi Mahila Dayan Co-op. (proposed)
(Mehsana District)
|
"My dark days are over now"
Nanduben
Shrimali is a garment worker and midwife from Enasan
village, Ahmedabad district. Her husband was unable
to earn and the burden of raising her four children
fell on Nanduben's shoulder.
"I worked night and day to keep my children
in school. Then one day Bachiben, a senior dai (midwife)
in my village said,'Nandu, you are clever and you
have struggled a lot in your young life. Would you
like to accompany me on my midwifery rounds? I can
teach you this work.' And so I learned slowly to
be a midwife. Then I also learned about SEWA.
Today, I am a full-time 'barefoot doctor' and trained
'dai'. I have organised 50 dais to join SEWA and
our dai cooperative' Lok Swasthya. Last year, I
was elected to Lok Swasthya's executive committee.
Now I have organised training for 50 new dais. Health
knowledge and skills help more women during childbirth.
Sometimes for days I don't sleep at night as someone
or the other calls me to help with child-birth in
my village.
I feel like I have been born again after I joined
SEWA and Lok Swasthya Cooperative. I make a living
as a dai from the cooperative. my dark days are
over now." |
|
Back
Top
|
