Bhubaneswar: November 20: BIPF (Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation) in partnership with International NGO PATH organised Ideate 2018 today in Bhubaneswar. This year’s annual panel discussion was on Strengthening of Urban Healthcare through Community Participation-Challenges, Prospects & Avenues’ .
Speaking on the occasion, Ms Shaifalika Panda,CEO,BIPF said, “Dialogue is essential in mapping the right set of challenges and roadblocks in any social sector. The goal of Ideate 2018 is to create an actionable plan and workable road map on how diverse stakeholders can collectively address the challenge of urban health. Robust public private partnership can supplement the current efforts in urban healthcare”.
Keynote speaker, Dr Sanjay Pandey, Chief Officer – Advocacy & Partnership, Population Services International, India Office spoke about the urbanization process in our country and state. The small cities are growing at the faster rate. National and State Governments are implementing the National Urban Health Mission to reach out to un-reach population – most marginalized population – urban poor population . The major thrust is community participation and communitisation processes under the NUHM (National Urban Health Mission) . The provisions of Mahila Arogya Samity, ASHA, Rogi Kalyan Samity and Ward kalyan Samities are key instruments for effective community participation in urban health system.
Other panelists included: Dr Mrunal Shetye, Country Lead, Maternal, Newborn & Child Health, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, India; Dr Lipika Nanda, Vice President, Multi Sectoral Planning in Public Health, Public Health Foundation of India, Hyderabad; and Mr Sudhir. M. Diggikar, CEO, Apollo Hospital, Bhubaneswar.
The discussion was moderated by Dr Rajiv Tandon, Technical Director, MNCHN+A, PATH India, who said, “there is still much to do to deliver quality and equitable healthcare to all. National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) document suggests promoting community-based groups for enhanced community participation and empowerment in conjunction with the community structures.”
Panelists emphasized on the involvement of community members to bring improvement in health care. Panelists also said that health organisations and private sectors can contribute a lot towards bringing in improvement in the conditions of the urban poor.
BIPF has been organising Ideate for last 7 years. In previous years BIPF has organised panel discussion on different burning topics like: Maternal & New-born health, Education, water & sanitation, immunization and others.
