The model of CRHP was designed to operate on a three-tier approach to health and development. At the first tier is the community. The bulk of CRHP’s resources are diverted towards our many diverse community-based programs that involve working with individual families to achieve health promotion and socioeconomic development. Preventive programs, including health education, prenatal care, immunization and nutrition programs are seen as essential components towards improving the health and quality of life in project villages and indeed can achieve significantly more progress than curative care alone.

Once a village agrees to participate and becomes a partner in development with CRHP a Village Health Worker (VHW) is selected and receives extensive training at the CRHP training centre. Senior VHWs from other villages are also involved in this training process by freely sharing the knowledge and experience they have obtained through years of community work.

In addition to the VHW, CRHP facilitates the formation of community groups such as Mahila Mandals (Women’s Groups), Farmers’ Clubs, Adolescent Girls Groups, and Self-Help Groups. These groups may be organized at different stages depending on a community’s stated needs and interests.

The second tier is the CRHP’s Mobile Health Team (MHT), which acts as a liaison between each project village and CRHP. The MHT provides periodic support for all health and development activities when needed and conducts extensive project monitoring. The MHT also serves as a link in CRHP’s health referral network.

The third tier is the hospital and training centre located on CRHP’s Jamkhed compound. It is here where local, national and international training in community-based health and development takes place and trainees, including VHWs, are housed. The non-profit hospital provides many medical and surgical referral care services for the populations of our project villages and also receives patients from other areas outside Jamkhed Block. The concept is known as low-cost secondary care, which aims to provide quality care at a minimum cost to our patients.