The provision of curative services has been found to be an essential component in establishing the sustainability of all primary health-related activities and programs. Ensuring an adequate referral network and providing easily accessible quality care at an affordable cost has also done much to enhance the credibility of VHWs and improve the health of these rural communities. The hospital acts as referral centre for health problems that cannot be dealt with in the villages by VHWs.

Only 20% of the patients are from the project villages, as most health problems are resolved at the community level. Low cost and financial sustainability is achieved by having a basic yet very effective facility (building, furnishings, equipment and supplies), using effective but inexpensive medicines (rational drug therapy), and keeping costs down to a minimum in surgery and other areas of patient care as long as quality of care is not compromised. Relatives assist the nurses in many aspects of patients care, contributing to lower costs and faster recovery times. Patients who are able to pay are charged basic fees for the services in order to support the hospital and allow us to extend care to more of those who truly have no means to obtain even basic medical services. 

In addition to organized training sessions for outside groups the training centre hosts ongoing seminars and workshops in knowledge, skills and personal development to all village health workers and members of community groups partnered with our project. Training topics include health, agriculture, micro-credit and loans, income-generating programs, government schemes, and watershed management. More experienced health workers take an active role in the training of their younger colleagues. The project invites experts in various fields to conduct these sessions for members of the project villages.

TRAINING CENTRE

With a wealth of experiences and lessons learned over the years CRHP founded the Institute for Training and Research in Community Health and Population at Jamkhed in 1992 to formalize the training that had been provided over the years.

The training centre receives both international and national participants. Since 1995, over 2,000 international (representing nearly 100 countries) and 5,000 national health and development workers from government, non-government and faith-based organizations have been trained.

Participants have included grassroots workers, doctors, nurses, government workers, administrators, and students. These individuals and groups receive training in community-based health and development concepts, leadership skills and personal development. Various courses are offered throughout the year including diploma, certification, short-term exposure courses and custom tailored training to meet the specific needs of organizations.

The training programs are participatory and offer guidance for carrying out CBPHC (community-based primary health care) projects in virtually any setting. Course instructors include CRHP staff, national and international public health experts, and members of the project villages including VHWs and CBO (community-based organization) members. Participants also learn from each other as they come from diverse cultures and backgrounds with a variety of work experiences.