We all need help or a small support in almost many aspects of life. During my early days at Jawhar while exploring the geography and the partner organisation working at different themes here. It’s little bit tough for me to convey my thoughts, and ask queries, doubts. The reason was the local dialects of Jawhar (Marathi). But there was always a positive support from my co-fellow, project mentor, and the fellowship team. In the beginning it seems very confusing as the issues which we both faced was the transportation. But slowly and gradually with the support of a small tea-samosa shop owner (Mr. Rahul Bharsat) near the saki naka chowk, bus stop. I got to know about the availability of local transportation facility for the village community. For regular field and health center for my project location visit I got to figure out both the local transport and private vehicle timing. Also, the tea-samosa shop owner bhaiya had a scooty which he gave for my filed work and visit in case when I missed my bus. This helping nature of people here in jawhar boost my confidence for early adaptation.
During conducting participatory rural appraisal (PRA) with the gram panchayat and the villagers helped me to connect with the community. This was the time during which I was accepted by the community because the was a huge participation of the villagers for the activity. On the other side I got a platform to explain my project and action of work to the villagers and gram panchayat. The support and co-operation from the community and gram panchayat was relay helpful throughout the whole two years journey of JSW Foundation Fellowship. The village transit walks with the multi-purpose health worker supported me to understand about the health dynamics of the community and also this gave me an opportunity to liaison with community representative, ASHA workers and Aanganwadi workers. The village resource dynamics were identified while doing the resource mapping and seasonal mapping with the community. The filed visit at different village communities helped me to understand about the different cases of tuberculosis and the challenges faced by those TB active patients. My field activities were supported by the health and wellness centre (HWC), Vadpada and their team along with the Nursing volunteer from the Shree Gajanan Maharaj College of Nursing and Research Center, Jawhar. the Aayushman Aarogya Mandir, Jamsar played a key role to initiate my filed intervention for the TB awareness among the tribal community of Jawhar and also to capacitate grassroot health staffs for identifying the hidden cases of tuberculosis within the village community.
The additional support during the Community TB Awareness Campaign was provided by the village gram panchayat Jamsar. the panchayat members including the gram sachiv and sarpanch were very co-operative during this whole duration of my work at village Jamsar. I got an opportunity to attend the gram sabha multiple of times. Where the issues related to villages were discussed. With the support of gram panchayat we were celebrated various health days like- World TB Day, International women days, Gandhi Jayanti etc. The Village Health Sanitation Nutrition Committee (VHSNC) were also made to inter linked health issues services along with the gram panchayat and agreed with the possible midway to rectify those issues. The village Aanganwadi centers and their workers were also associated with the gram sabha and VHSNC.
The gram sachiv (Mr. Sunil Pandurang Bhoye) was very supportive and co-operated me for the implementing the Community TB Awareness Campaign activities at 10 different sub-villages of gram panchayat Jamsar. The goal of this awareness campaign was to sensitize the community for TB Mukt Panchayat through TB prevention, early screening and on time testing along with benefits under National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP). The gram panchayat also supported me to organize medical camps for the villagers. The doctors and paramedical staffs catered free medical consultation to the villagers. Also, the eye clinic under the health camp referred cataract cases to the Sub-District Hospital, Jawhar and Civil Hospital, Nashik for further consultation. I also got support for my health talk activities regarding diseases prevention, healthy diet inclusion, and government health programmes benefits for the villagers. Both Health and Wellness Center (HWC) and Aanganwadi centers played a key role for my community activities. The ASHA worker and Aanganwadi workers supported me for inviting the pregnant and lactating mother for understanding the importance of balance diet, iron and folic acid tablet consumption during pregnancy and Anti Natal Care (ANC), Post Natal Care (PNC), Immunization for infants, and management of malnutrition was explained to them. At the last all the queries from the participants/audience were welcomed and explained to them.
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