Hand Book for Gaon Burahs and Panchayati Raj Leader

264. Objectives of Village Health Planning: The objectives of village healthplanning are:• Heightened community awareness regarding community healthstatus and the multiple determinants that affect health,• Better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of variousproviders in the health care system, organization of health careservices;• Improved skills in conducting community surveys, prioritizingproblems based on local evidence and data, and demandingservices as appropriate;• Development of a Village Health Plan that identifies problems andkey actions required at household, community and health systemlevels.• Development of a Village Health Charter that lists the key goals ofthe village health plan and a commitment from people and thesystem that they will work together towards achieving the goals ofthe charter.5. Who takes the lead? The Village Health Committee, (a standingcommittee of the Gram Panchayat), or the Village Health Team (in asmaller village/ward) is expected to lead the process of developing aVillage Health Plan. The VHC requires training in participatory appraisalmethods as well as basic orientation to key health issues to conduct thisprocess. The Sarpanch, ANM, ASHA, AWW and communitystakeholders, particularly women are key to the process of planning.Where possible local NGOs with expertise in participatory appraisalshould be included in the planning process. The Village HealthCommittee will also require an orientation to the planning process. TheVHC will need to organize meetings with stakeholders in the village indifferent groups and collectively at periodic intervals to discuss theprocess and finally present the plan to the Gram Sabha. While planningis an annual process, periodic updates (maybe biannual) are required toinclude emerging issues and review progress towards meeting the goalsof the plan. A sub committee of the VHC (ASHA, ANM, and AWW)would meet monthly to ensure that key services are being provided.6. Process of developing a Village Health Plan: The Village Health Planwould be based on a survey preceded by participatory appraisal. Theplan would include community diagnosis and an action plan. Communitydiagnosis identifies the main problems affecting the village/community,largely based on information collected from the community. The plan isdeveloped on the basis of the findings, led by the village healthcommittee and facilitated by the health system. The process of planningincludes:• Community survey, listing of all households and identification ofvulnerable – poor, landless, marginalized.