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 The
Ranchi Low Birth Weight project has facilitated the formation of
Village Health Committees (VHCs)
in rural Jharkhand to actively select and support the hamlet-level
Community Health Workers known as Sahiyyas. The process of working
with VHCs, however, is generating a number of insights on village
dynamics and collective decision-making and action on health and
on community participation in local health systems, both in relationships
of accountability and assistance. It is hoped that these experiences
will help inform the National Rural Health Mission, especially the
ASHA Programme and the effort to engage Panchayats, in particular,
Village Health and Sanitation Committees in health planning and
implementation.
By focusing on the processes of formation and participation within VHCs, this project is generating insights into:
The role and relationship between VHCs and Sahiyyas and the importance of community support in a CHW programme;
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The creation and utilisation of community-level resource mobilisation for health, including the establishment of a Village Health Kosh or fund for health-related expenses; and
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The role of VHCs in participating in health systems strengthening through contributions to renovations (monetary and non-monetary) of health facilities in their communities and the monitoring of service provision.
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