Community Health Centre in Hazaribagh District

In the heart of Churchu block, we come across a small rust colored building surrounded with gardens, and two ambulance vehicles. This is the Community Health Center(CHC), which is famous in the local area for providing quality health care services at the block level. It is well-maintained and is equipped with the latest healthcare equipment. This service has been possible under the leadership of the then Deputy Commissioner, Shri Ravi Shankar Shukla (IAS), and the current Medical Office In-Charge(MOIC), Dr. A.P. Chaitanya, with the assistance of the ADFs, Dr. Pretty Priyadarshini and Ms. Charu Madan, and the CHC’s medical staff.

The MOIC and employees of the Churchu’s CHC emphasise on sanitation being the ‘most important’ to health. Therefore, the rooms and the washrooms are regularly scrubbed. Further, the bedsheets in the wards are color coded, with different colors for each day for washing them. This serves as an example of using a creative measure to promote sanitation. Monthly awards are given to staff members who takes steps to ensure hygiene. Their picture with the label of ‘the most hygienic person of the month’ is pinned on the board in front of the waiting room to gather public admiration.

Dr. Pretty has helped the staff of the CHC to recognize the relationship between waste management and sanitation. MOIC believes that waste management is crucial in preventing the spread of germs and diseases within the centre’s premises. The golden rule for the CHC’s staff under the waste management system is, ‘Let the wastes of ‘the sick’ not contaminate the lives of ‘healthy’. Therefore, three large pits are placed outside the building with the labels, ‘General waste pit’, ‘Sharp pit’, and ‘Placenta pit.’ These segregations are not solely for the purpose of display. Each staff member remembers them by heart.

The limited size of this CHC does not prevent it from encapsulating required health facilities in the best possible manner. It consists of an OPD, laboratory, operation theatre, and Adolescent Friendly Clinic (Yuva Maitri Kendriya), ICU corner, cold-chain room, and labour room. The latest machines are kept to ensure safe and accurate treatment. These include the Ultra Prime monitor to assess BP, SP O2; baby warmer, suction machines; Nebulizer, Oxygen Concentrator etc. The ASHA worker or Sahiyas are appointed in the labor room at all times to ensure safe institutional delivery. This has been helped by the CHC providing Sahiyas with a separate residence, ‘Sahiya Rest-Room,’ and a washroom. 

Apart from providing health services to the community, Churchu’s CHC focuses on creating a community behavioral change. Color coded bins are kept within the premises to introduce healthy waste disposal behavior among the patients and visitors. The community is provided with a grievance redressal system wherein suggestions and feedback are recorded. These are directly evaluated by the MOIC. 

The major component of the development and maintenance expenditure of Churchu’s CHC has been funded through the National Health Mission(NHM). Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) funds are used in parts of the project. Further, Hazaribag is the first district in Jharkhand state to use DMFT funds for bridging the Human Resource gap in the health sector. In 2018, 55 health personnel were recruited with the help of health experts and the Hazaribagh administration. 

The elements of great leadership, dedicated staff, effective resource mobilization, and community participation are responsible for the success of Churchu’s CHC. At least three of these can easily be availed. Hence, Dr.Chaitanya requests professionals to reach out to remote areas for provision of quality healthcare. 

Source : Public System Stregthing in Aspirational Districts