We live in an unequal world where science has revolutionized medicine, but sadly there has been no revolution for ensuring equal access to healthcare for all. Inequalities in healthcare are the most shocking and inhumane of all inequalities. The shortage of doctors and their maldistribution between urban and rural areas contribute to inequitable health care delivery. This inequality is stark when it comes to remote tribal areas. Strategies are being sought by the government and universities to address this inequality and the challenges in the needy areas.
As a health-focused, secular NGO working in the neediest tribal area of Kalahandi district in Odisha, Swasthya Swaraj feels the need to offer opportunities for young medical students / doctors to explore, experience and understand the nuances of this starking inequity in healthcare.
If interested, reach out to us on swasthyaswaraj@gmail.com.
STEP – Swasthya Swaraj Tribal Health Exposure Programme
STEP offers opportunity for young medical students and interns to explore and experience working in tribal areas, understanding the scopes and challenges involved in providing healthcare to a vulnerable population. It also provides medical students a unique opportunity to understand how primary healthcare can be made an exciting and enriching experience and also to witness millennia-old Adivasi culture and practices at the same time. It aims to inculcate in medical students’ desire and motivation to work in badly underserved areas of the country.
The program will be tailored to the time and interest of the participants. The participants will gain first-hand knowledge about the community-rooted health work at SS in the 2 health centres and ‘village health & nutrition centres’ in the community. There will be ample opportunities for discussions, debates, and doing small projects. The students will be mentored during the programme. Small groups of less than 10 will only be accepted. Travel, accommodation and food expenses ( 250/person/day) of the students will be met by SSS. Certificates for having done an internship with us will be issued to those who require it.
THF – Tribal Health Fellowship
Swasthya Swaraj offers an oppurtunity to those medical doctors who are looking to work in highly challenging areas and who can commit their time with the organisation where they provide their medical services. In tandem, one will get an oppurtunity to understand the culture of the ‘Kutia Kondh’ tribe (a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group).
THF is one year of unique experiences in the area of comprehensive primary healthcare in the tribal block of Thuamul Rampur in the Kalahandi district. This will be a paid fellowship. In addition, it offers an opportunity for learning, interacting, involving in research on relevant topics, and receiving mentorship from eminent doctors passionate about tribal health.
This is nurturing a bunch of young doctors as next-generation leaders in health to promote health equity in the country. This program seeks to enhance the passion, dedication, and commitment of young doctors by mentoring them and providing them opportunities for experiential learning by working in challenging situations, to empower them to pursue their own quest for social justice in health.