Program to reach out to every woman and Infant in the Namakkal district

[Guest guest]

Reach out to every woman and Infant in the Namakkal districtDepartment of the

Experimental medicine and AIDS resource centerTN DR MGR Medical University 96

SalaiChennai

April 26th was an important day for the people of Namakkal district in

particular for the women and Infants.

In the presence of the Chief medical officer, Dr.V.Subramanian of the Government

hospital of Thiruchengode, Dr.N.M. of the TN DR MGR Medical University

initiated a unique programme “REACH OUT TO EVERY WOMAN AND INFANT “.

The group from the department of the experimental Medicine of the Medical

university have been operating a MTCT prevention center at Namakkal district

head quarter hospital since 2000, providing VCTC, ARProphylaxis, training of the

health care professionals of the district including village health nurses. This

is the first MTCT prevention center established at the rural district head

quarter hospital in the country.

What are the unique features of the programme?

To reach every women and Infant in the District it is necessary to set up team

of counselors and social workers who can provide Voluntary counselling, testing

and care at Taluk hospitals and

Primary Health Care centers. In addition to enlist the private practitioners to

provide care and support to the infected in their care. 50-60% of the

inhabitants in the district solicit the services of the private sector.

These efforts address the overall MTCT prevention among rural communities in the

district. We are of the opinion that there are other issues that require

prioritization; to measure the impact of the MTCT on the child survival, to

prevent infection during the breast-feeding period and to protect the

seronegative pregnant women.

Home-based care will be initiated and novel approaches to increase the uptake of

MTCT will be worked out that include the role of the traditional birth

attendants (Dias) and the village health nurses.

Training Provided to Hospital staff at the Thiruchengode hospital

Dr.Sara Mini and other colleagues from the Department of Experimental

Medicine of the Medical University conducted a training course to the Staff of

the hospital. This course was the first of the kind that the hospital team

attended and it was interactive. 60-80 participated.

A Care team consists of Counsellers, Nurses, Social workers and the Laboratory

technician are posted at the Thiruchengode hospital

A young and energetic team of workers lead by Miss. Olga (social worker cum

counselor) is posted to provide 24 hour voluntary counseling and testing

services to the women who seek assistance. This team will ensure that health

education will also be provided to all attending the hospital irrespective of

gender and illness. Seroprevalence among pregnant women attending ANC at this

site is 2%

Feasibility studies are undertaken at the other sites in Namakkal district.

Namkkal district terrain is divided between plains and mountains and accordingly

the communities and their customs are varied. The tribals in the mountains are

markedly unique in their customs and family traditions while the people on the

plains are different. While the majorities in Namakkal are long distance truck

drivers the Thiruchengode inhabitants are bore well diggers- they tend to be

away from homes for long periods of time. Miss.Udaya senior Nurse cum counselor

of the team undertakes the feasibility studies. In addition to the team at

Thiruchengode

Two other teams will be posted to cover Kolli hills, Sendamangalam and

Parmathivellore local health centers. Preliminary surveys indicate that the

Seroprevalence among pregnant women attending the ANC at these sites is 2.5%.

Acknowledgements

This programme will not be possible without the active support of the Vice

chancellor –Dr.C.V.Bhirmandaham and the financial assistance from the EGPAF,

USA.