| Health Although the Indian government runs many health care programs, the benefit of such programs rarely reaches these communities. Due to illiteracy, differences of language, social isolation and isolation caused by poor transport infrastructure, levels of health education awareness are very low. As a result, the burden of disease, disability and unnecessary deaths are high in these villages and frequently lead to extreme economic hardship that affects the wider family group. Sadly the social isolation of these villages has not been any protection against the rapid rise of HIV/AIDs cases brought in by the return of labour that migrates to the cities in search of work, but lack of health education and services is helping to spread it even wider in these communities. Birds Heal and Jagruthi Staff are working to identify people suffering from HIV/AIDs and encouraging them to seek the regular medical and food supplement support that is being provided through the Birds Heal dispensary.
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 | Polio victim
Disabilities resulting from the lack of protection offered by immunisation and vaccination are common place, as are those arising from lack of informed prenatal and postnatal care of both mothers and infants. Birds Heal and Jagruthi field staff are working to change this situation in the Jevargi and Chincholi areas. The identification and training of Traditional Birth Attendants is also an additional effective way of improving this situation. |
Lmphatic Filariasis
Poverty and TB continue hand in hand with poor nutrition, crowded housing and ignorance of the availability of government programs of medication for this disease, as do leprosy, malaria and lymphatic filarisis (a disease transmitted by mosquito bites that results in painful permanent swelling of the limbs). Birds Heal and Jagruthi staff are identifying people suffering from these diseases and assisting them to obtain the appropriate treatment as well as creating health awareness about what preventative measures can be taken. |  |
 | Making a record of disabilities
The Staff of Bird Heal and Jagruthi are identifying people with mental or physical handicaps in each village and raising awareness of their needs with the relevant government departments. Where possible they are also setting up self-help groups to enable those with physical disabilities to gain access to loans and it is hoped that these groups will form the basis of a local network of groups to campaign for improved health facilities and access to skills training as well as the right to obtain the full amount of the tiny financial benefit allocated by the Government. At present it is common for them to only receive Rs120 of the Rs200 they are entitled to a month. |
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