Public Health - Overview
{
cannot expect to solve India’s “One health problems by focusing on curative interventions alone. India must focus on preventative and promotive healthcare. - Rajat Gupta, Chair, Public Health Foundation of India and Co-Chair, AIF
“
{
India accounts for: • 20% of the world’s maternal deaths, with a woman dying every five minutes. • 20% of deaths worldwide of children under the age of five.
Consequently, AIF has expanded its public health program to focus on reducing maternal and child morbidity and mortality in addition to its earlier work on care and prevention of people affected by HIV and AIDS.
The findings of the last National Family Health Survey in India identified maternal and child health as a critical area for the health sector, and underlined the need for immediate and large-scale interventions. Over the last year, AIF aligned its Public Health strategy to match national priorities.
Within the broad space of maternal and child health, AIF is planning to implement programs that: • build health literacy & capacity • promote government maternity benefits schemes • increase access to basic care during pregnancy, skilled care at the time of birth and quality emergency obstetric care • provide home-based newborn care • promote basic curative services for major childhood killers
With the Prime Minister of India terming the child mortality situation in the country as “a national shame”, the health machinery has recast national health priorities to focus on maternal and child health.
Attendees at a community meeting to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS. YRG Care, Andhra Pradesh.
{ American India Foundation - 25 - Annual Report 2008 - 2009 }