In one of the most talked about economies of the world, India, its health care sector is buzzing with a lot of organisations meant especially for the women and children sector. The health sector in India has government, private and NGO bodies working for myriad of causes. Each of these focuses on various pin pointed niches and caters to specific needs in the health care segment. The private healthcare sector is much more popular in India than the public health care sector.
There are various organisations that operate at national at state level throughout the country. World organisations like UN and WHO are involved with the government in eradicating various ailments like polio and work closely to help migrant women and kids. UNICEF India works on the lines of improving maternal health in the Indian community. UNICEF also works with Indian government’s National Rural Health Mission for supporting nutrition and development to the women population. UNICEF’s IMNCI program is specifically designed for newborn children.
The National Commission for women, which came into existence in 1992, is the apex national level organisation that deals with women’s healthcare in India. It’s a body that advices the government of India on all the matters regarding women health. One of the newly launched organisations is the Public Health Foundation of India; its main aim is to address the shortfall of health professionals to address public health issues. The government has also launched the ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) to tackle nutrition and health related services for children below six years and their mothers. It includes everything from immunization, checkups, supplementary nutrition etc. The ‘anganwadi’ shelters were started by the government to provide very basic health facilities and medicines like salts, re-hydrants and contraceptives to the children and women population of the Indian rural population. The aim of these various government bodies is not just to help the population but also aid in training them to lead a healthy lifestyle and hence build a strong community.
Number of NGOs (Non-Government Organisations) have mushroomed all over the country helping women and children deal with various ailments, malnutrition, infant mortality etc. Plan India Children NGO, Save the Children India, Help A Child etc. are some of the many NGOs that are running various centres across the country. There are voluntary organisations too, like Family Planning Association of India, Bharat Sevak Samaj, All India Women’s Conference and Central Social Welfare Board etc., which work towards achieving heathier women population.
The urban women and child population of India has been benefited from various private sector organisation providing world class facilities; whether it’s related to infertility or the much talked about breast cancer. Like any other country, India is facing some challenges with the health care sector. But given the entry of a lot of private players and the continued efforts of the government to focus primarily on women and child care, the health scenario in India is looking far more positive and upbeat.
