About the program

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At Swasthya Swaraj in Kalahandi, Odisha, the focus was on empowering tribal communities through health education and capacity building. The Diploma in Community Health Practices (DCHP) program was designed to train local health workers, equipping them with the skills needed to provide primary healthcare services in remote villages. This initiative aimed to bridge the healthcare gap by fostering self-reliant, community-led health solutions.​

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Challenge

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Limited healthcare access – Many villages lacked trained healthcare providers, leading to delayed medical intervention.

Need for skilled community health workers – A structured training program was essential to build local capacity.

Cultural and linguistic barriers – Training materials had to be contextualized for better comprehension and practical application.

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Design Approach

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The training program followed an evidence-based, community-driven approach, ensuring that health workers could effectively diagnose, treat, and refer cases. Key elements included:

 

Structured training modules covering maternal & child health, infectious diseases, and non-communicable diseases.

 

Hands-on practical sessions with real-world simulations for enhanced learning.

 

Field-based learning to ensure trainees could apply knowledge in real community settings.

 

Multi-lingual educational materials to overcome language barriers and make learning more accessible.

 

My Role

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As a Training Coordinator, I:​

- Led the Diploma in Community Health Practices (DCHP) training, ensuring its effective implementation across 82 villages.

- Designed and delivered training modules, tailored to the needs of local health workers.

- Engaged experts to develop interactive, practical learning methods.

- Conducted field visits to assess trainees' learning progress and impact.

- Maintained training records and ensured curriculum updates for ongoing program effectiveness.

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Through this initiative, I helped build a cadre of skilled community health workers, strengthening grassroots healthcare in one of India’s most underserved regions.