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The contribution of community health workers intervention involving self-help groups (SHGs) in improving maternal and child health has been recognized by various studies conducted across the globe. In Bihar, the third most populous state of India, the implementing partner, Project Concern International (PCI), a development organization has been implementing several health, nutrition and sanitation (HNS) interventions onto the networks of existing or newly created women’s SHGs since 2011. Findings from the pilot studies showed that women’s SHGs could be a promising social platform to layer health-related interventions through the behavior change communication (BCC) approach. Therefore, the Government of Bihar and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) deliberated for health integration within JEEViKA-Bihar Rural Livelihood Program (BRLP) using women’s SHGs in selected blocks across the state. JEEViKA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PCI to provide technical support for improving maternal and child health indicators. In 2016, PCI established a technical support unit called the JEEViKA Technical Support Program (JTSP) to integrate health, nutrition and sanitation program within the existing microfinance and livelihood framework of JEEViKA. Serval cadres were created to support implementation of health interventions at different levels. Discussion on health and nutrition practices in weekly SHG meetings was one of the key strategies for health intervention adopted in JTSP. Some other strategies were reinforcement of messages through home-visits, community outreach activities, campaigns etc. Broadly, the role of JTSP in HNS integration within JEEViKA, which is itself evolving, includes handholding supports, technical oversight, capacity building of community cadres, strengthening system capacity and institutionalization of HNS within JEEViKA system. The evaluation partner, Population Council, India has been engaged in assessing a large-scale community-based health program through SHGs since 2011. |
