In 2008, the Development Department concluded a project aimed to raise the awareness on reproductive and child health (RCH) in four villages in the Varanasi district. You can read about the project below.

Reproductive and Child Health Awareness in four Villages of the Chirigaon Block of Varanasi District, Uttar Pradesh

In 2008, the Development Department concluded the project on “Reproductive and Child Health Awareness in four Villages of the Chirigaon Block of Varanasi District, Uttar Pradesh.” The project took place in the villages of Mokalpur, Mustafabad, Amba and Chhitauni of the Chiraigaon Block of Varanasi District, and it ran from 1st of May 2007 until 30th April 2008. The high maternal mortality rate (MMR) and infant mortality rate (IMR) in India provided the incentive for this project. To improve these rates, adolescent girls and women must be educated on the government facilities available to them and, more basically, awareness must be raised on the importance of Reproductive and Child Health, especially prenatal and antenatal care. The objectives: To enhance knowledge of adolescent girls and their family on the issue of RCH To create a gender just environment to enable women in decision-making, especially regarding their personal health related issues To improve women's access to the health services Target groups: Adolescent Girls in the age group of 12-18 Years Married Women in the age group of 19 to 30 years Girls from poor and marginalized sections of the society Special focus on girls who are early drop outs from school of those who have never been to school Family members of these adolescent girls The project was based on a participatory methodology. From each village, three batches of 30 women and 30 girls were selected, i.e. 180 participants per village. In total, 700 women and girls participated. The women and girls met two times a month in kishori kendras, where they could discuss their problems, share their joys and sorrows, try to find solutions, and discuss their local issues. These meetings in the long term generated a sense of belonging and togetherness and instill a sense of confidence. The groups also received Capacity Building Training and classes on RCH. In these trainings, the women and girls received basic knowledge about Reproductive and Child Health: such as the importance of registering pregnancies, having a balanced diet and taking dietary supplements, and immunization of the child. Moreover, Community Watch Groups were formed and various 'Awareness Generating Activities' took place. These ranged from painting competitions to local songs and informative video shows. Additionally, the pregnant women and their families were closely monitored and a survey was conducted. Conclusions The project was deemed very successful by the Centre for Social Research. The women in the villages were very open to learning about RCH. The face to face contact made it possible to offer the women encouragement and support as they were making crucial reproductive decisions, as well as allaying their fears and anxieties about the available care. Working one on one with women through the survey and tracking gave us a direct feel for the anxieties of pregnant women and the reasons many of them have for not accessing prenatal care. By carefully listening to women's reasoning on health issues we were able to understand what kept them from utilizing the best health practices available to them. Especially the sessions with the young girls in the kishori kendras were deemed very productive, as the young women were eager to learn and discuss health concerns. The girls have received knowledge on reproductive health and hygiene which they can utilize during the crucial years of development and long into their futures. The success of this project was evident in the number of women who were reached, and who after working with our team began to receive care and services during and after their pregnancies.