Planning and preparation of VHND through convergence: Sharing experiences from Uttarakhand

BackgroundVillage Health and Nutrition Days (VHNDs) has been identified as important tool and unique platform to converge rural health, hygiene and nutrition services by National Rural Health Mission. This study has analysed the current status of planning and preparedness of concerned functionaries and highlights the gaps in convergence of services. Objectives To analyse status of preparedness of village functionaries – Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), Anganwadi worker (AWW) and Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) member to provide various services at VHND.MethodsThe study was conducted in three districts of the Uttarakhand at Nainital, Tehri-Garhwal and Chamoli involving 24 villages in six blocks using predesigned pretested interview schedule and VHND observation checklists related to planning and preparedness.ResultsStudy noted that 86.36 percent ANMs, 85 percent ASHAs and 33.33 percent AWW had prepared a micro-plan or the beneficiary checklist for the conduction of the VHND with unclean Anganwadi centre (41.67%), without availability of clean drinking water (70.84%), without privacy for Antenatal care (87.5%) and without required instruments (50%). Only 77.27 percent ANM, 55 percent ASHAs and 44.44 percent AWW had participated in any Village Health Nutrition and Sanitation Committee (VHNSC) meetings in last three months. None of the VHND sites had displayed timings and information regarding services.ConclusionHealth day's face many challenges requiring interdependence and collaborative actions from inter-concerned departments where the functionaries need clarity in accountability to ensure adequate vigilance for VHND services more focussed to ensure integrated health, nutrition, and sanitation services.