COMMUNITY LED INITIATIVES FOR CHILD SURVIVAL

Health is a Song Away for Meerabai

collected from every person in the village: 7500

was collected and constitutes the ‘village health
fund.’ Finding a space for the clinic was a
challenge but they managed to get permission to
use a disputed Gram Panchayat building. The
members of the VCC cleaned and painted it
personally. Two doors that were missing were
also installed. “It was a labour of love,” says
Meerabai.

Meerabai leads the VCC

Once the clinic was established, the VCC led by
Meerabai, organized campaigns on Safe
Age does not hold her back in any way. Her
Motherhood, Save the Girl Child etc. People in
driving force is her interest in other people and
the community were sensitized to the need for
desire to help them improve their health. It is a
immunization, ANC, PNC and improved
common sight to see 60 year old Meerabai Dhale
hygiene. Through their efforts the VCC has
accompanying women, children and even
made an arrangement with a scooter rickshaw to
teenage girls to the clinic. “Sometimes people
transport pregnant women to hospitals for their
need support even though they know what needs
delivery. “A fixed rate has been worked out for
to be done,” she explains.
each place and now everyone feels secure with
this arrangement.”
When nominations for the post of President of
the Village Coordination Committee (VCC)
Whereas 20 % of the population of the village
formed under the CLICS program were being
sought services earlier, the figure has now risen
given by senior village members, Meerabai was
to 70-80%. The indirect savings of the
the unanimous choice: She was a social worker
community due to the clinic is estimated to be 75
and the president of the Mahila Mandal at this
lakh rupees. “If you add up what is saved on
stage. Her kind and generous personality had
transport to the PHC which is far away, plus the
won her a place in the hearts of the community.
medicines we obtain at low cost, the savings are
Since the establishment of the VCC in 2004,
huge,” explains Meerabai.
numerous improvements have taken place in the
village of Kolona. The most important one has
The impact of the CLICS program on Meerabai
been the establishment of a clinic. “At the first
has been enormous: her thirst for knowledge is
VCC meeting itself, we decided this was the
fuelled by the monthly training sessions she
most important health need in the community,”
attends and she now even composes songs on
says Meerabai. Towards this end, 5 rupees were
health themes! No one is surprised when she Contact us
breaks into a song that advocates hand-washing, Community Led Initiatives for Child Survival

drinking clean water, and taking ORS. She (CLICS)

spends her day going from house to house to

motivate people to improve their health. “I cover
about 15 houses a day,” she says. Fondly
referred to as the “unofficial ANM” of the
village, Meerabai has also adopted two Dr. Sushila Nayar School of Public Health
Incorporating Department of Community Medicine
malnourished children in the village and saved Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences
their lives through her painstaking efforts. Sewagram - 442 102 Wardha District
Maharashtra (India)
“Children deserve a future,” she declares.
E-mail: bsgarg_ngp@bsnl.in

Our Website
http://clics.org.in

MGIMS Aga Khan Foundation

Development Partner