Acwerk Health Care

Acwerk Rural Development Foundation

183/1/91, Plot 7a, Fourth Cross Street, Vivekananda Avenue, 

New FairlandsSalem-636016, Tamil Nadu - INDIA

PH:91.427.2430702, FAX:91.427.2331052. Email:acwerk1@gmail.com

I am happy to introduce myself as Author and Trustee of `Acwerk'- Acwerk Rural Development Foundation. A non-profitable organization situated at Salem, Tamil Nadu, India. On 28 December, 1998 Acwerk was established as a registered charitable trust (number 205). I am a doctor by profession, began to support rural people of Salem in General Medical Problems specializing in early Leprosy, Tuberculosis and Rehabilitation of disabled. These were main objectives of the founding, education to underprivileged and disabled children, secondary objectives. I graduated from medical school in 1981 at Chennai and ever since been a practitioner in villages of South India. It was my dream to establish an entity that would support and provide an accessible health care to village people. In 1993 started my work in a Leprosy institution at Chettipatty village, about 20 Kms north of Salem City and then realized my dream, `Acwerk'.

Field Initiative

Acwerk since inception in December 1998 has undertaken 210 field initiatives in villages at Omalur and Mettur Taluks of Salem District. A Village Clinic is an initiative that reaches out to  village people that screens, investigates, treats, refers, follows-up and cures  people with general medical problems, specializing in early Leprosy, Tuberculosis and rehabilitation of disabled. A Doctor, Field Health Supervisor, Senior Village Nurse, Lab Technician, three Village Health Workers, an Office Assistant and a driver are involved in the team.

Features of Awareness Build

Pamphlets were distributed and discussed with workers at Ondriveeranur Village.

The features;

Accessible Health Care

Nutrition

Hygiene

Family Welfare

Education

Occupational Welfare

Immunization

Picture; Sixty workers from Ondriveeranur and five other neighbouring villages in a discussion with health workers at site on 06 July, 2009. Population-500

Awareness Build

Awareness build was the main event of 2009. In the picture, D. Joseph is in conversation with village residents of Marrakottai. A brief on early signs of Leprosy and Tuberculosis. Team visited 35 villages in Kadayampatty Block. A doctor, five staff, three health workers and a driver comprised the team.

Picture. 08 June, 2009-Meeting VIP's

Area in sq kms 302.07

Villages 35

Population 14100

Enumeration 2839

Male 730

Female 2100

Pamphlets 2839

Aim of Awareness

Accessible health care was the aim of initiating the event. Patients familiar with our centre were keen that their neighbours should benefit too. 

Picture;Team visiting workers at site at Nallur Village on 29 May, 2009. Population, 200.

Coverage: Two Hundred

Families: Forty

Adults: Two Hundred Women

Occupation: Farming and Manual Work

Work At Site: Excavation work at lake

Health Facilities: A Govt. Primary Health Centre, 10 kms away

Transport: State buses every two hours

Power and Potable water provided by state

A Day At Acwerk Centre - 27 July, 2009

Follow-up of School Children Under Treatment

Children under treatment attend review clinics with their parents. 

They are assessed by the doctor once in two weeks- Pictures July 27, 2009

People are aware of their health problems. 

They lack guidance and accessibility.

Considering their socio-economic condition they respond well to advice.

Their nutritional status is fair, with a little help they can do better.

They are simple, free to express and apprehensive of high cost of treatment.

A thoughtful consideration even if treatment be meagre, is what they expect.

It seems that primary health care is indispensable even though health care has become more sophisticated and complex.

Review of Early Leprosy in School Children

D. Joseph, Health Supervisor

Lab Screening for Early Tuberculosis

S. Daniel, Lab Technician

Issue of Medicines To Tuberculosis Patients

Medicines are issued free of cost for the entire period of treatment

Management of Early Disability

Patient with early leprosy given physiotherapy and education in care of hands and feet

School Children Referral

Referral cards are issued in school for review at Centre and recording follow-up

Date of Registration

Tuberculosis patient being registered for start of treatment by M. Pilavendran, Village Health Worker

Medical Consultations

Patients are registered and assessed by Village Nurse, J. Elizabeth before medical consultation

A Day At......., Medical Consultation

Examination of a Tuberculosis patient:

Acwerk Self-Reporting Centre Dasasamudram, Poosaripatty Village was established in January 2008. The idea was to provide an accessible rural health care.Most patients are regular and respond well to treatment.

Consultations and review are three days a week.Patients are also referred by us from school screening and out-reach clinic's. Response to awareness build has been good and patients have reported to the centre for treatment and follow-up as well. Patients were educated of the importance of screening for early signs of Leprosy and Tuberculosis.They were made aware the consequences if these early signs were unattended. That it could affect the entire family and livelihood. Limited income, daily wages, distance and transport facilities are  reasons that restrict them from availing prompt health care advice. We consider their difficulty by providing suitable follow-up measures. Tuberculosis is still an increasing threat while early Leprosy is a silent menace, especially among school children. We continue to closely watch over them even though all patients do not fall in the typical category.

Period 2009

Conducted 70

Coverage 103 Villages

Population 50000

Consultations 1575

General Medicine 970

Dermatology 396

Tuberculosis 172

Leprosy 37

Lab 311

New 25%

Review 75%

Referral Attendance 46%