A. Integrated approach throughout life cycle

We believe overall, integrated and comprehensive development of communities, especially the poorest of poor. Therefore, we invest in health and non-health programs that positively impact lives throughout the life cycle of a beneficiary. A newborn baby is welcomed into this wonderful world through our maternal health programme. Few delicate and sick babies are treated in our intensive care unit. Once discharged from hospital, our community outreach programs care for infant at their homes. Once old enough, our extra school coaching provides supplemental primary education through innovative and experiential learning methods. Our adolescent empowerment program enables young minds and bodies to adapt to a changing times. Young men and women are provided skill building and character building education so that they get good job and
become responsible citizens. Once married, our hospital provides modern medical services during pregnancy and afterwards. Our hospital and community outreach teams help patients with chronic diseases during their adulthood. Elderly citizens are assisted to manage geriatric related problems, including cataract.

B. Medical and Health Services

1. Hospital:

The grant in Kasturba Hospital based at Jhagadia, provides round the clock services in the fields of OBGY, Paediatrics, General Medicine and Ophthalmology. The hospital is fully equipped with labor room, operation theatre, Neonatal ICU, laboratory, X-ray, sonography, blood bank and life saving medicines. The hospital has a full time staff of about 20 medical doctors and other 50 trained paramedical staff. The mother and baby friendly hospital is also recognized as First Referral Unit (FRU) by state government and UNICEF and ensures Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric & Newborn Care (CEmONC).

2. Comprehensive Eye Care:

More and more people are taking advantage of the services provided by the hospital and more than 50 diagnostic eye camps being organized every year in a population of 2 million in interior and rural areas. The programme has facilities like operating microscopes, diode & yag lasers, auto refractor, phaco-emulsification and automated perimeter. Surgeries like cataract with intraocular lens implantation and keratoplasty are regularly performed.

3. Community Health Programmes:

Under its outreach health care, SEWA Rural successfully managed total health care responsibility of one Primary Health Centre (PHC) covering 40,000 pop. for almost 15 years. This was entrusted by state government under a unique NGO-GO Partnership and on 100 % grant in aid basis. The project achieved most of the targets of Health for All by 2000 AD much earlier and sustained them over a period of time. After the return of PHC back to Government, SEWA Rural since 2003 managed a “Family Centred Safe Motherhood and New Born Care Project” in entire Jhagadia Block covering 168 villages (pop. 175,000) and in partnership with district and block level government health department The main aim of the project was to develop an evidence based model to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and
morbidity in resource poor settings.

4. Training and Resource Center in Health:

Different cadres of health workers from voluntary organizations, government staff and students from varied academic institutions from India and abroad have expressed keen interest to visit SEWA Rural and learn from its rich grass root level experiences in community health, comprehensive eye care and rural development. To meet such ever-increasing demands, a formal training
centre was established in 1990 at SEWA Rural’s main campus in Jhagadia.

C. Education and Economic Empowerment Programmes

1. Vivekananda Gramin Tekniki Kendra (Vocational Training Center):

This vocational center was started to in 1986 for development and economic betterment of rural tribal youth which is 5 km from Jhagadia at Gumandev. Local youths, who could not complete school education or pursue higher education for various reasons, are given 1 year free residential training in various trades like Fitter, Welder, Turner, Environment Plant Operator & Electrician. Efforts are also made to provide character and responsibility building avenues in the training. Every year
about 100 youth are trained in Tekniki Kendra. Thereafter it is ensured that all the students are placed on jobs in nearby industries and few assisted to set up self employment units to make them self reliant.

2. Sharada Mahila Vikas Society :

With the initiative of SEWA Rural a new organization, Sharada Mahila Vikas Society, is formed in 2003, to facilitate the development, empowerment and well being of women by their active participation and to make entire setup conducive to the women. For improvement of economical, social and educational condition of poor women, various educational, awareness generation as well as economic activities are undertaken. Emphasis is also given to aspects of self development, gender discrimination, empowerment, social security and awareness building.