Aga Khan Health Services, India

The mission of the Aga Khan Health Service, India (AKHS,I) is to provide access to good quality, comprehensive health care and promote physical, social and mental well-being in the target population through a sustainable health care system, including a multi-speciality hospital, based on the principles of volunteerism and community participation. It strives to be an integrated health system recognised for its quality, volunteerism and innovative information, education and communication. From its base in Mumbai, the Community Health Division operates through a team of almost 1500 volunteers and 150 staff. Six Regional Health Boards and 32 Local Health Boards are responsible for programme implementation. The Local Health Boards manage preventive and promotive health services through outreach activities, which are delivered and implemented by lady health visitors and multi-purpose workers. There are a total of 281 health committees involved in health promotion and prevention which field staff visit regularly. There are 2 health centres. The Community Health Division seeks to achieve its objectives by improving the health behaviour of the programme population in relation to hygiene, use of oral rehydration, immunisation, maternal care, risk factors for preventable non-communicable diseases, tuberculosis, information and services for child spacing.