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About the
Action Health Programme
Making a Difference -
The Health Trainer's Role
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The Placement:
This is the second of three one year placements in a three-year partnership between MASS and Skillshare International, Action Health Programme. MASS works with rural communities in Orissa whose health status is relatively poor and access to public health services is variable. Illness is identified as one of the main causes of poverty in the community. The MASS and Action Health programme project began in July 2000 to help the communities to improve their health. In this second stage a Community Health Trainer is to train village health workers and develop a long term strategy for a health intervention programme.
Action Health - MASS PARTNERSHIP
MASS is a NGO founded in 1988 by a group of like minded students and academics working in the Sambalpur District of Orissa. Its main objective is to establish a society where the communities are empowered enough to analyse their own problems, assess their own developmental goals and are equally capable to act towards attaining these goals in self-sustaining ways to live a dignified life of their own. The focus of the work is environmental protection so that tribal families are able to access a sustainable livelihood. Other than this, they support women's groups with micro credit and training programmes. MASS is registered with the State Government and the Home Ministry.
Country:
Non-violent resistance to British colonialism in the sub-continent led to independence for India in 1947 and divided the secular state into India and Pakistan, forming the Republic of India in 1950. Later in 1971, after disagreement between the two countries, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) also became a separate nation.
Located in southern Asia, bordering the Laccadive Sea area of the Indian Ocean (near important trade routes), Arabia Sea and Bay of Bengal, the country has a large area of 3,287,590sq kms adjoining Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma (aka Myanmar), China, Nepal, and Pakistan. The terrain varies between upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in the south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in the west and Himalayas in the north.
The climate is extremely varied. The most influential feature is the wet season, or monsoon. This breaks on the far south Keralan coast at the end of May, working its way across the country over the following month and half. During this period temperatures are held down by the regular downpours, interspersed with sunshine, producing a pervasive humidity. The monsoon causes flooding in parts disrupting communications and transport services. In the Himalayan foothills landslides are frequent.
In winter the north of India, including the capital New Delhi, can be affected by chill winds blowing off the Himalayas and freezing fog, while the south plains are still baked by the post-monsoon sunshine. In recent years the east coast has been hit by severe cyclones that caused a high death toll, severally affecting homes, basic services and agriculture. The extremes of weather and an incomplete infrastructure combine to produce unpotable water, insanitary conditions and endemic malaria.
India has natural resources of coal (fourth largest in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum and limestone. Manufacturing industries include textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum and machinery and it exports textiles, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, chemicals and leather manufactures. There is a strong demand for the high technology exports.
India is the dominant economic power of the sub-continent with an expanding economy, encompassing traditional farming and modern agriculture that produces rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes, cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry and fish; handicrafts; a wide range of modern industries; and a multitude of support services.
English enjoys associate official status but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communications. Hindi the national language is the primary tongue of 30% of the people and there are 14 other regional, official languages.
Transport between towns and cities is cheap, extensive and provides a choice of trains, planes, buses and even boats. The train network covers almost the entire country and is composed of inter-city, local passenger, super-fast, and steam locomotive services. Buses go almost everywhere, more frequently than trains in daylight hours, but are less comfortable and conditions vary.
Driving is not for the beginner, expect the unexpected and other drivers taking liberties. Car hire vehicles come with a chauffeur. Transport around towns varies between buses, suburban trains, taxis and bikes.
Region:
Orissa lies on the east coast of India open to the Bay of Bengal and is protected in the west by mountains from which run the great rivers of Mahanandi and Brahmani that flow across Orissa rendering the state to a low level alluvial delta prone to floods and subsequent famines. At other times the densely populated heartlands of Orissa are known as "the rice bowl".
In mid-June the tropical monsoon blows in and cyclones rupture the riverbanks and irrigation channels. Otherwise, Orissa enjoys a fairly congenial climate for most of the year with average temperatures ranging from 17 degrees Celsius between November and March to a bearable humid 32 degrees Celsius in summer.
Orissa is a poor state and major cyclones have recently had a devastating impact on it. Government and international aid has been channelled into the region but it will take a long time to restore power, build homes and reinstate agriculture as well allowing for the recovery from bereavement following the death of millions of people in the floods.
Getting around presents few problems in the populated areas. The main National Highway 5 and Southern Railway run the north-south length of the state along the coastal margin with rail connections to Delhi, Calcutta and Chennai (former Madras). Elsewhere buses are the best way to travel even to remote areas, or local taxis.
The state capital is Bhubaneshwar, a planned concrete city until you look behind the modern façade. It has a population of half a million and has history dating back over two thousand years. On the edge of town is the domestic airport and the Howrah-Chennai rail line passes through.
Sambalpur is a university town on the banks of the river Mahandi and close to the Hirakud dam in the northern part of Orissa. It is well connected by road and NH-42 and NH-200 rail network. The communities in which the Community Health Trainer works are well demarcated villages surrounded by paddy fields and forests.
Duties and Responsibilities
- To follow up the recommendations of the needs assessment.
- To continue the training of staff and community representatives in common health problems faced by the community.
- To continue the development of a long term strategy for the health intervention programme.
- To understand the health-seeking behaviour of the community.
- To liaise with the other health services available in the community.
- To access secondary data from various sources.
- To share all the above information in an understandable manner with the staff of MASS.
- To report regularly to the director of Action Health Programmes.
Person Specification
Essential
- Medical Doctor with some experience in community/public health and training or a public health nurse with experience in community health and training.
- At least two years practical post-qualification working experience.
- Experience of working as a member of a team.
- Experience of supporting and motivating others.
- Ability to speak and understand Hindi or willing to learn Hindi.
- Facilitation, communication and diplomacy skills.
- Ability to cope with stress and frustration.
- Ability to work with a different culture.
Desirable
- Experience of developing and delivering training (passing on skills and knowledge).
- Experience of using participatory techniques.
- Experience of working with limited resources and support.
- Experience of working in India or another developing country.
Placement Information
Accountability:
Skillshare International (Action Health) Programme Manager, India and on a day to day basis Secretary of MASS.
Environment:
The Community Health Trainer will be based in Sambalpur town and will travel to project locations in the district. The Trainer will have access to a motorbike to facilitate travel around the project locations. Telephone, fax and computer facilities including e mail access are available at the MASS office in Sambalpur.
Other Information
Pre-departure training will be given in working with communities to identify needs, and on participatory appraisal methods if necessary. In-country language training will be provided as required.
Length of post: minumum one year.
The Trainer will have accommodation in Sambalpur with bathroom, running water and electricity. A cook is available if required.
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