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REPRODUCTIVE AND CHILD HEALTH PROJECT

The Reproductive and Child Health Project (RCHP), is a World Bank-aided 100% centrally sponsored scheme. The first phase of RCHP started functioning from the year 1997-1998 with the following two components:

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1.?????Sub-Project covering the Districts of Madurai and Theni, both Urban and Rural.

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2.??? National Component.

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??????????? The sub-project of? RCHP,? implemented with a capital outlay of Rs.23.14 crores, came to a close on 30.09.2004.

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??????????? However, all RCH interventions under National Component as agreed in the design of the programme or subsequently approved in the Ninth Plan are to be? continued during the 10^th Plan period till launching of the next phase of RCHP. This includes schemes? such as RCH camps,? 24 hour delivery care services with staff Nurses, contractual appointment of personnel, civil works etc., as per the pattern of support agreed during the 9^th plan.

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Phase II? of RCHP? is likely to be launched during this financial year.??

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??????????? Phase II of RCHP as approved by Central Appraisal Committee is likely to be implemented from this financial year with a total financial outlay of Rs.426 crores for Tamil Nadu for a project period of 5 years from 2005-2006.? The programme covers the entire State of Tamil Nadu. A sum of Rs.74 crores has been sanctioned and allotted?? by Government of India for the year 2005-2006. The project will be implemented as100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

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The programme design of RCHP II has been guided by the various policy instruments such as the Millennium Development Goals Declaration, National Population Policy 2000, National Health Policy 2002 etc., and by lessons learnt and experience gained from Phase I of? RCHP.

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Objectives

§???????????????????? Reduction of Maternal? Morbidity and Mortality (MMR)

§???????????????????? Reduction of Infant Morbidity and Mortality (IMR)

§???????????????????? Reduction of Under 5 Morbidity and Mortality (U5MR)

§???????????????????? Promotion of adolescent health

§???????????????????? Control of reproductive tract infections and sexually transmitted infections.

Interventions

The following interventions are proposed under RCH Phase II for implementation during the financial year 2005-2006.

1. Maternal Health

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a)???? 260 Primary Health Centres are proposed to be taken up for improving access to Essential Obstetric and New Born Care services round the clock.

b)???? Improving quality of antenatal, neonatal and postnatal care by providing increased number of antenatal checkups, fixed day antenatal? clinics, linking visits of neonates with postnatal care, empowering the VHNs in performing obstetric first aid and newborn care.

c)???? Improvement of the? referral networking systems by establishing emergency helpline.

d)???? Regular conduct of blood donation camps for the continued availability of blood in the blood banks.

e)???? Universalizing the concept of birth companionship during the process of labour in all health facilities conducting deliveries.

f)?????? Operationalisation of maternal death audit to address the issues that have led to maternal deaths.

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2. Infant and Child Health

1. Reduction of? new-born deaths, infant deaths and child deaths by providing continuous health care and strengthening of new-born care infrastructure facilities.
2. Organizing? counselling sessions for the mothers.
3. Implementing integrated management of neonatal and childhood illness as a pilot initiative in selected districts in Tamil Nadu.
4. Operationalising infant death/stillbirth verbal autopsy.
5. Addressing the issue of female infanticide and foeticide.

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3. Adolescent Health.???????

a) Focusing adolescents as receivers and providers of knowledge and function as link volunteers in the community.

b)?? Utilising the services of trained adolescents for propagating Indian System of Medicines.

c)?? Broadcasting and Telecasting of programme by AIR/TV focusing adolescent, gender and health related subjects.

d)?? Formation of co-ordination committee at the district level and monitoring committee at the State level for overseeing the AIR/TV programme.

4. Family Welfare

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a)????????????????? While sustaining the ongoing family welfare interventions in all districts, 19? districts with higher order births will be targeted for intensified interventions.

b)????????????????? Social marketing programme for condom and other health commodities, promotion of IUD insertions, familiarizing the concept of one-stop Family Welfare Centre.

c)????????????????? Increasing access to safe abortion services by popularising manual vaccum aspiration (MVA) technique.

d)????????????????? Establishment of one-stop family welfare services at Comprehenisve Emergency Obstetric and New Born Care (CEMONC) Centres.

e)????????????????? Popularising No Scalpel Vasectomy.

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?5. Reproductive tract infections / Sexually transmitted infections / Cancer control.

a)????? Establishment of Reproductive Tract Infection / Sexually Transmitted Infection, early Cancer detection clinics in 385 block PHCs.

b)????? Strengthening RCH outreach services.

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6. Infrastructure strengthening for service delivery

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a)??Construction of HSC buildings where HSCs are currently functioning in rented premises

b)??Rebuilding HSCs which are unfit for occupation.

c)??Taking up of repairs/renovation and provision of water supply/electrical works to PHCs/HSCs.

d)??Need-based supply of equipment/furniture to the HSCs and PHCs as per the standard list including gas connections.

e)????????????????? Provision of Cell phones to 100 HSCs where large number of deliveries take? place.

f)??????????????????? Provision of telephones to 774 PHCs

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7. Training

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a)????Skill upgradation training with focus on improving/upgrading the skills of health care providers.

b)????Integrated skill training for peripheral health functionaries such as VHNs, SHNs, medical officers and health inspectors.

c)????Improving managerial and communication skills of health staff.

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8. Behavioural Change Communication (BCC)

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a)????? ?Social mobilisation activity against female infanticide and foeticide by preventive counselling.

b)????? Formation of HSC, Block, District level committees for saving? female babies.

c)????? Conducting of Kalaipayanam (travelling street theatre) to promote social mobilization and to improve health care among the target population

d)????? Telecasting of TV serials, Radio broadcasts, wall paintings, hoardings and glow signs for popularizing health and reproductive health messages in important places.

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9. Health Management Information systems

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Introduction of IT-enabled HMIS for planning and monitoring health services at the State/District /Block levels

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10. Strengthening of Teaching Institutions

Strengthening the facilities at teaching institutions for providing optimum obstetric, family welfare, neonatal child health services.

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11. Establishing Urban Health Posts

To provide an integrated and sustainable system for primary health care service delivery catering to the requirements of urban slum population and other vulnerable groups.

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