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Disability Disability has been defined as any "restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being."(WHO) Disability is one of the most neglected issues by government. As Dr. Mahanta puts it, it’s a weak sector in government. Government doesn’t have any proper plan for the disabled people. o Till 2000 HPVHA mostly was involved with few activities related to disability. They were mostly celebration of Polio day, few small rallies on disability etc. But the effort on disability was not there. HPVHA was a member of the state blindness society during the late 90’s. o In 2001 during the census activity, HPVHA had an initiative to supplement the research activities of government for census of disabled. This gave us a base in understanding the ground level situation of disabled people. Also using its strong member network HPVHA formed the Disability Action forum of NGOs in HP. The year also saw campaign on International Disability Day. o During 2002-03 HPVHA organised a Special Olympics for disabled people. This is so far the only sports event organisation has organised. A medium of spreading awareness and involving community which can be explored further. Also were conducted camps on muscular dystrophy. o HPVHA was involved with the activities related to advocacy on disability during this whole period. o During 2004-05-06 HPVHA got involved with a project on community based rehabilitation for disabled. HPVHA identified disability as its main priority in its vision 2010 document. Along with Action AID it setup a resource centre. Its purpose was to help in developing resource agencies across Himachal and also to do advocacy on the issue. Also there was a state level consulting project on NREGA activities for the disabled. o In 2007-08 La Mainson De Himalayas came up with the Kullu Disability Project along with HPVHA. It involves need assessment survey on disability, identification of types and distribution disability in various age groups and understanding the scope for setting up a special hospital/school/centre for disabled persons in Kullu. o Funding agencies involved with the projects have been Action Aid Details... Traditional System of Medicine This has been an area where HPVHA has worked from right from its genesis to the current period. The project has taken various formats and strategies- appraising local vaidyas about the usage of traditional medicines, developing low cost primary health care, TOTs, capacity building for NGOs, working with farmers for cultivation techniques etc. This project has involved member organisations right from the beginning and also involved instances where HPVHA has worked as an implementing agency. Initially the activities included workshops for members for encouraging local vaidyas and baseline surveys on the usage and prescription of such medicines. After the first few years this activity was revived in 1995-96 with a project on cultivation of medicinal plants which involved direct interaction with farmers from all regions of Himachal. Further work on Traditional System of Medicine involved- workshops, exposure trips, documentation and information dissemination. HPVHA even came out with publications on the same topic. HPVHA clubbed its initiative of this issue with its objective of providing low cost primary health care to people of Himachal. It started a project on home remedies using traditional medicines to address these gaps. Also the project on cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants was again started in 2000-01. During the period of 2004-05 HPVHA was awarded the MNGO for Indian Medicine Program under the AYUSH scheme. Details... Women & Health Health aspects related to women have been a focus area of HPVHA for a long time. Although this area has been addressed by many NGOs still HPVHA’s experience and expertise make it a leader in this issue. This issue is also related to mother and child health care, and reproductive child health. Over the years these projects have seen maximum involvement from the member NGOs and community (especially mahila mandals). This experience has been valuable for HPVHA as it has strengthened its network and given it relevant field level experience. In the pre-1992 phase there were many projects started by the member NGOs- primary health surveys, camps to address medical issues of women, nutrition issues, and training camps. These camps and trainings were mostly conducted by the help of Dr. Kshama Metre and Chinmaya Trust. Also Sutra and Ruchi played a major role. For a few years these activities became a regular feature in HPVHA’s annual activities, with reproductive child health and delivery issues also becoming a part of the campaign. Most of these campaigns were run with the help of government departments and sarva swasthya abhiyaan. They also included special trainings for village health workers and awareness camps for Panchayat members. In 1995-96 for the first time theatrical techniques were introduced as a part of awareness campaign which became a common feature in HPVHA’s IEC activities down the years. Also this year the organisation took up the issue of Mental health of women which in the following years also gave way to the discussions on Social and legal aspects related to Women. In the period till 2000 these activities continued mainly through workshops, TOTs, awareness campaign for men, training of traditional birth attendants, publication of IEC material on this issue and addressing adolescent health issues of girls. In 2000-01 Mother NGO status was awarded to HPVHA for Reproductive and Child Health Program for four districts in Himachal Pradesh. Under this government scheme HPVHA worked on IEC –awareness activities along with ensuring proper delivery of services to women. It involved many members from its network for implementation. The coming years saw numerous workshops on capacity building of members on the same issue through trainings. In 2001-02 major breakthroughs were achieved under the same scheme in the remote areas of Lahaul Spiti which was a first by any NGO. Also in the coming years apart from the regular activities on this issue HPVHA took up the issue of Women Rights, AIDS schemes specifically for female sex workers, trafficking and advocacy at the state level on all issues related to Women Welfare. Many of the above mentioned programs were run by state departments, or by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Details... Child Issues When most of the NGOs in Himachal were working on primarily Women and their health aspects, mostly working with Mahila Mandals, HPVHA took initiative to have exclusive programmes just for children. NGOs were covering the aspects of new born children and their health, but lot of issues related to their nutrition later, sensitive issues like child trafficking, adolescent health and legal aspects/rights related to children were getting neglected. HPVHA has been a pioneer in this field too. This section excludes the RCH and other Child Health schemes Earlier in 1990-91 HPVHA conducted coordinated a discussion on values which should imbibed in children. It explored the role of family, society. This had been a one off discussion and there hasn’t been any follow up on this. In the same year there was a discussion on distribution of nutrition to children. In 1992-93 there was a meeting on Bal Shramik Mukti Abhiyaan which was the first instance of HPVHA discussion Child Rights. During the next few years till 2000 there were regular workshops on issues related to legal aspects, social issues and mental health for children. But rather than complete focus on children they were clubbed as “Women and Children”. When Mr. Rajan Mahajan joined the organisation, it was his personal interest in issues related to children that shaped HPVHA’s strategy on children. He believed that children should have specific programmes for them and they should be separate from activities related to women. In 2000-01 organisation started with its program on Adolescent health, which was spreading awareness by training of health workers. Regular TOT activities were conducted. Campaign against Child trafficking was conducted in the next year. Also Mr. Mahajan made all efforts to raise this issue. HPVHA also became a member in the government committee Combating Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Women and Children. In 2003-04 was awarded the Child Budget analysis project from HAQ which required the organisation to analyse the budgetary allocations for children in HP. In 2005-06 due to the continued advocacy efforts in the field of child trafficking the organisation was awarded the nodal agency for Childline India Foundation. Childline Shimla was started addressing rescue and rehabilitation of destitute children. A significant number of cases are tackled every year both related to rescue and rehabilitation of children. Room to Read was a program started in 2005-06 with an intention to reduce drop out rate in primary schools and increase the reading skills of children. This program is currently running in Shimla and Nerwa blocks and is covering almost 100 schools. Associated organisations have been Department of Women and Child Development, New Delhi, TDH, Childline India Foundation, Room to Read US and HAQ-Centre for Child Rights. Details... Aids 1993-94 was the first time HPVHA initiated an activity on AIDS. It was a planning meeting with members on AIDS prevention and control. During those days there was hardly any activity related to AIDS in the state and also the awareness levels regarding the disease was less. This was done in collaboration with NACO and Ford Foundation. In 1994-95 STD/HIV/AIDS prevention and Control programmes started which involved,  Workshops, Information Dissemination, rallies, training of trainers. Association of State AIDS Control Cell, State IEC Cell  This took place in four districts Shimla, Mandi, Kangra and Kullu  Again in coordination with NACO  These activities carried on for 2 years In 1997-98 HPVHA took up a Research Study project on STD/HIV/AIDS. This year the organisation also released a publication Charcha on AIDS. These activities were funded by the Australian High Commission. 1998-99 was an important year for the AIDS programme. Initiative of Tele Counselling for AIDS, face to face counselling and Healthy Highway Project at Barmana were started this year. It was supported by BHC-DFID, Australian High Commission and HP State AIDS Society. These were the three key projects which shaped the work of HPVHA in the field of AIDS. HPVHA pioneered the efforts of counselling. In counselling Dr. RS Mahanta was key personal who helped HPVHA employees with training on counselling. This was the first time an organisation had taken up this initiative. As these projects continued and passed on from Mr. Mukesh Sinha to Mr. Rajan Mahajan there was a high emphasis on measurement of key metrics related to these projects. Also during his phase capacity building of the organisation on counselling was a prime activity. According to him he had a special attachment to the project on AIDS counselling. During 2002-03 the awareness on AIDS was moved to schools and also to taxi drivers. o Over the years NACO, HPSACS, HP State AIDS Society and Australian High Commission were the key partners and funding organisations. o Currently the projects running on AIDS cover counselling, drop in centre, and working with HIV patients. Also HPVHA is working with two categories of MSM and FSW. Details... Key Initiatives HPVHA has taken numerous initiatives which have been first of their kind in Himachal Pradesh. Such projects have then been taken up by various government and non-government agencies later, but HPVHA has been a pioneer. Details... Current Projects Village Resource Centre in HP Supported by: ISRO, Bangalore Areas covered: Almost all the districts of HP Objectives: Main focus on the broadcasting of the programmes based on Health, tele-medicine, use of IT in agriculture etc MNGO-RCH-II Supported by: MOHFW, GOI Areas covered: Mandi & Bilaspur distt. Objectives: To create awareness about adolescent sexual and reproductive health, promote 100% registration of pregnant women and institutional deliveries, ensure at least 3 ANC and improve child immunisation thus reducing IMR/MMR 3. Comprehensive strategy to achieve basic health and development for maternal and child care in the state of HIMACHAL PRADESH Supported by: MISSERIOR, Germany Areas covered: 12 districts Of Himachal Pradesh Objectives: Identification and training of the Health Workers in member organizations on Reproductive Child Health focusing on Adolescent Health, malnutrition, STD/RTI and HIV/AIDS, sensitization of the chief functionaries on various priority health concerns -TB, First Aid, child health and rights, elderly care, Disability, SHG, health related laws and environment issues and development of entrepreneurship among Women, Adolescent girls and Youths and ensure emergence of self reliant people’s organizations at a local level facilitating people-centered development. 4. Child Budget Analysis Supported by: HAQ: Centre for Child rights Areas covered: All HP Objectives: Development of a research methodology & framework and analysis of various specific schemes/ programmes focusing on children of 0-10 years, demand and grant of concerned departments and assess the implementation of ground level execution of such schemes/programmes. 5. Disability Project Supported by: La Mainson Des Himalayas Areas covered: Kullu distt. Objectives: Need assessment survey on disability, identification of types and distribution disability in various age groups and understanding the scope for setting up a special hospital/school/centre for disabled persons in Kullu. 6. Drop-in-Centre (network for PLWHA) Supported by: HPSACS, Shimla Areas covered: Barmana, Distt Bilaspur Objectives: Extension of help to those affected with HIV/AIDS and in need of various services deliveries provided by the government and empowerment of people living with HIV/AIDS 7. Programmes-HIV/AIDS Supported by: HPSACS &NACO 7.1 Telephonic-cum-Computerised Counselling Centre Areas covered: Shimla Objectives: Prevention and control of HIV/AIDS/STD through counselling 7.2 TCC Areas covered: Shimla, Bilaspur Objective: to provide counselling and services to people afraid to reveal their identity 7.3 Individual Counselling services Areas covered: IGMC and PPTCT at DDU hospital Objective: To provide counselling for STI/HIV/AIDS 8. Learning to Read Programme Supported by: Room to read India Programme Areas covered: Shimla & Nerwa Blocks Objectives: This programme aims at promoting increased reading habits among children in the primary schools and thereby develops confidence in them and reduce dropout rate. 9. Public Health Report Supported by: CSD, Delhi Areas covered: Chamba Objectives: Conducting a qualitative and quantitative survey on the health status in the village of Chamba. 10. Childline Supported by: Ministry of Women and Child Development and Child Line India Foundation, Mumbai. Areas covered: Shimla Objectives: To reach out to every child in need of care and protection by responding to emergencies on 1098, Rescue and relief services ,referral of identified cases to appropriate institutions of government./private response system, facilitation for social or institutional rehabilitation of child, follow up of the cases, monitoring & evaluation etc. 11. Tobacco Control Programme Supported by: American Cancer Society University Areas Covered: Shimla Objectives: Making Shimla smoke free till 2010 by Identification and sensitization of major stakeholders comprising of - Police, Judicial system, Bureaucrats, Policy Makers, Government officials etc. for effective and responsible implementation of the anti tobacco act and creating awareness amongst the masses. 12. Total Sanitation campaign Supported By: DRDA Bilaspur Areas covered: Bilaspur, Solan & Hamirpur Objectives: Generate felt demand for sanitation facility through awareness creation and Health education thus making the entire area ODF and also focus on overall sanitation, personal hygiene, solid and liquid waste management etc. 13. Village Resource Centre in HP Supported by: ISRO, Bangalore Areas covered: Almost all the districts of HP Objectives: Main focus on the broadcasting of the programmes based on Health, tele-medicine, use of IT in agriculture etc by establishment of VRCs at various NGOs. Details...

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To The Official Web Domain of HPVHA

The Himachal Pradesh Voluntary Health Association (HPVHA) established in 1987, is a registered nonprofit making society having a secular constitution which aims at improving the health of the people irrespective of the caste, creed, sex and religion. It is a state level federation of voluntary organizations engaged in health and development activities. The organization works in the field of community health and helps the grassroot level voluntary organizations to plan, implement and evaluate their development programmes.

Core Objectives!

Advocacy is one of the core activities of HPVHA, a State Level Network of voluntary organisations, Organising meetings, workshops and periodic information dissemination on various identified issues is an ongoing and inevitable activity of HPVHA.. HPVHA also highlights various key strategic issues at State, National and International levels, a major one being the issue of State specific health policy.

HPVHA is a non-hierarchical, de-centralized, non-discriminatory, democratic, and transparent organization committed to the spirit of volunteerism and to making sure that our overheads are as low as possible, so that almost all of our members have enough resources for implementing quality social projects. HPVHA since its inception has been striving hard for the
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HPVHA was established in 1987 and was completely functional from 1990 in Himachal Pradesh. HPVHA went for new initiatives for the first time in H.P. and mobilized the voluntary sector. Domestic violence and matters like single women, legal rights of women are also the concerns of HPVHA and it made many efforts in this regard by organizing
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