‘Health is wealth’ as the saying goes. Socio-economic growth is important for progress of any community but health is even more important aspect, if any individual or community has to flourish. Though government has made provision to provide health services to one and all under NRHM, it is not reaching the poor, needy and deserving, especially in remote and interior areas of India.

Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA-Gujarat) was formed as a state chapter in the year 2000. JSA -Gujarat works towards achievement of fundamental right to health for all, especially of the most marginalized people, by critically reviewing government health policies and making architectural correction on the basis of health care delivery system. It advocates people’s participation through policy formulation and implementation. It also works towards fact finding on violation of right to health and its reprisal.

A one year pilot project funded by Dept. of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of Gujarat, was undertaken by Foundation for Research in Health Systems, the nodal agency of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, JSA-Gujarat, to be implemented by partner NGOs. The aim of the project was to identify and establish the roles and responsibilities of JSA and its partners to carry out activities for capacity building of VHSCs in selected blocks of Gujarat. This would be achieved by training the VHSCs to plan and monitor delivery of health services at village level. The other aspect was also to test the existing training manual and recommend changes needed and develop additional training resources at the district level.

Through these trainings VHSC members became more aware of National Rural Health Mission its services and their roles and responsibilities. They received information on various schemes related to health and nutrition. They learnt how to make health and sanitation program for the village and utilization of untied funds. They learnt what ‘Right to Information Act’ was about. Thus as a result of the training the VHSCs became very active.

During the year 239 mentoring meetings were held to focus on VHSC achievement, planning for the coming year, establishing linkages with the government and NGOs, uses of Right to Information Act and planning for Jansamvad. They were also encouraged to become more active and responsible and partner with the community in maintaining good health and sanitation conditions.