CAD$100,000 grant for project on children with neuro-developmental disabilities
An international 'Stars in Global Health' grant by Grand Challenges Canada was awarded to Sangath for the innovative idea INFORM - a mobile health (or m-health) platform for ImproviNg Functional Outcomes foR children with iMpairments through community health workers in India.
Funded by the Canadian government, the $100,000 Canadian dollar grant is an international competitive award and will commence on June 01, 2013, under project lead Vivek Vajaratkar and under the mentorship of Dr Gauri Divan. It is co-funded by Hong Kong-based Innovgreen Disable Foundation Limited - a private foundation aiming to improve the quality of life of children with impairments and their families; in partnership with the UK-based charity Multi-Agency International Training and Support (MAITS).
The main outcome of the INFORM project is to disseminate evidence-based practices for children with neuro-developmental disabilities through m-health technology. M-health technology is a rapidly growing tool in low- and middle-income countries, and our project will empower non-specialist community health workers to deliver best practices to children with neuro-developmental disabilities at a relatively low cost and with assured quality which will be maintained by supervision.
As a broader implication, Sangath is looking at INFORM as an innovative method to scale up evidence-based care for children with neuro-developmental disabilities through the empowerment of families by trained community health workers. The grant was announced in Round 4, Phase 1, of the 'Grand Challenges Canada Stars in Global Health' awards, which supports "bold ideas" from low- and middle-income countries that integrate science/technology, social and business innovation.
This latest award will further Sangath's vision of 'task-shifting' specialist services to trained community workers for neuro-developmental disabilities to address the severe shortage of specialists in the region.
Child Rights & Responsibilities workshop conducted in Vasco
Sangath conducted a workshop on 'Child Rights and Responsibilities' for the students of Our Lady of Desterro High School, Vasco. The concept of child rights was explained to them, and they were asked to explain why rights are important and what would happen if they were not granted.
The topic of child responsibilities was then introduced, and the students shared their views on why they were important. They were encouraged to describe situations in which they underwent adverse consequences of exerting their rights without taking up their responsibilities.
Following this, each right and accompanying responsibility was explained to the students and discussed with them. They were then divided into groups and asked to match the accompanying responsibility with each right and prepare a chart on the subject. The workshop was supported financially by non-profit organisation Child Rights and You (CRY).
Sangath lights up heritage monuments as part of global autism awareness campaign
Observing the need to help children and adults with autism to lead full and meaningful lives, Sangath led more than a dozen establishments, schools, religious places and hospitals in Goa on April 01-03, 2013 to increase autism awareness.
Marked every year as World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) after a declaration by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008, April 2 has come to symbolise the celebration of the unique talents and skills of people living with autism. Monuments around the world - including Goa's own heritage structures of the Old Goa Medical College in Panjim and the Se Cathedral in Old Goa - were lit up blue, the colour associated with autism.
Schools including Sunshine Worldwide School (Old Goa), Shiksha Niketan (Torda), and Kids' Camp and Young Achievers' Primary School (Porvorim) conducted activities. Establishments such as Cidade de Goa resort (Dona Paula), Chalston Beach Resort (Candolim), Cafe Mambo, Bomras, Cafe Chocolatti (Baga), Cafe Bodega at Sunaparanta Centre for the Arts, Pedro's Music Store (Panjim), Hallmark and Perpetual Pharmacy (Porvorim) also joined in the campaign.
Goa Medical College and its Neuro-rehab Centre, Vintage Hospital, Manipal Hospital and Campal Clinic were the health institutions that participated in the drive. Sangath also received support from government departments, including the Directorate of Social Welfare, Department of Education, Entertainment Society of Goa, Directorate of Art and Culture, and the Archaeological Survey of India. The Bank of India, Porvorim, also extended their help to all activities.
Click here for pictures.
Five-Step intervention workshop to support families of people with substance abuse problems
The Five-Step Family Intervention Workshop was conducted by Sangath on March 09-10, 2013, using a variety of participatory methods to engage with attendees. Richard Velleman, Emeritus Professor of Mental Health Research at the University of Bath (UK), led the two-day course introducing the intervention supporting family members of people with drug and alcohol problems.
Developed and evaluated by Prof Velleman, the Five-Step method presents a straightforward method for working with family by supporting them in their own right as people negatively affected by a loved one’s substance abuse. As many as 20 participants, including students, professionals and hospital staff, participated in the workshop, held at Panjim Inn, Goa.
The intervention, which does not require people to be experts in either substance abuse treatment or family support, was delivered with a small amount of input from the tutor, observation of video demonstrations, role play and group discussions.
Self-advocacy training for youngsters with developmental disabilities
Sangath is conducting self-advocacy training for young people with developmental disabilities, under its SNAC (State Nodal Agency Centre) responsibilities.
The training will help participants understand their rights, how to advocate for themselves, the areas of advocacy, etc. Students from Asha Deep in Vasco and Sanjay School in Porvorim will be part of the programme, scheduled to begin on March 09.
Each school will receive 10 complete sessions over three weekends, with similar sessions to be continued in the next academic year. The training is mainly activity-based.
Recent publications
- Taylor & Francis Group published Alcohol Use And Alcohol-Use Disorders Among Older Adults In India: A Literature Review
- The Impact Of A Lay Counselor Led Collaborative Care Intervention For Common Mental Disorders In Public And Private Primary Care: A Qualitative Evaluation Nested In The MANAS Trial In Goa, India was published by Social Science & Medicine
- Programme To Reduce The Treatment Gap For Mental Disorders In Five Low- and Middle-income Countries was published by The Public Library of Science
- The International Review of Psychiatry featured the Association Of Somatoform Disorders With Anxiety And Depression In Low- and Middle-income Countries: A Systematic Review
- Social Science & Medicine published Addiction In The Family Is A Major But Neglected Contributor To The Global Burden Of Adult Ill-health
