Founded in 2001, the Byrraju Foundation seeks to build progressive self-reliant rural communities by adopting a holistic approach and providing services in healthcare, environment, sanitation, primary education, adult literacy and skills development. The Foundation currently works in 200 villages in 6 districts of Andhra Pradesh (East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Ranga Reddy and Visakhapatnam) and its health program has so far served 7 million patients.
SERVICES IN THE HEALTH PORTFOLIO
Primary Health Care:
The Foundation's services in a village begin with the establishment of a Village Health Center. This is an outpatient clinic with a part-time qualified M.B.B.S. doctor and a full-time qualified Auxiliary Nurse & Midwife (ANM) who provides services such as regular check ups, treatment of minor ailments and first aid. Primary health care is provided for a fee of Rs. 20 (50 cents) per patient per month. The clinics also dispense 20 essential medicines for a charge of Rs. 5 (approximately 12 cents) each.
Secondary Health Care:
When patients are diagnosed with ailments which require specialist opinion or surgery, Village Health Center doctors refer them to the Alluri Sita Rama Raju Medical College and Hospital (ASRAM) in Eluru in West Godavari district. Patients referred for secondary care are provided transportation by bus to ASRAM. Currently, this service is available in 76 of the participant villages in the district of West Godavari and over 8000 patients have already benefited from the service.
Identification and treatment of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, epilepsy, and eye & dental conditions is also a focus of the foundation. Followup and proper referrals are provided as required.
Maternal and child health:
One of the goals of the Foundation is to provide quality maternal and child care in all participant villages. To date, the health program has provided antenatal care to 12000 women and immunised nearly 42000 children.
HIV/AIDS:
The Foundation is the lead NGO for West Godavari District to provide technical and managerial support for HIV services through the District Project Management (DPM) team in collaboration with APSACS. The objectives of the problem are as follows:
-To prevent HIV/AIDS transmission and control its spread
-To reduce morbidity and mortality associated with the infection
-To mitigate the stigma attached to HIV/ AIDS patients
-To enhance community awareness, especially knowledge, attitude and practice
-To link-up counseling services and social support for management of HIV/AIDS patients
Telemedicine:
In a first of its kind initiative in rural Andhra Pradesh, a tele-ECG (electrocardiogram) facility was installed at Jinnuru Ashwini Centre in West Godavari district. Earlier, an SN ECG server was installed in the cardiology department of ASRAM hospital Eluru, and likewise, a SN ECG client at the Jinnuru Ashwini Centre. After the installation was complete, a data entry operator and a biomedical engineer were trained to receive, view and report the ECG. The transfer of files takes about three seconds and within 5 minutes, the cardiologist at ASRAM hospital is able to receive the report.
Highlights:
Patient visits : 7 million
School Health : 70,000
Eye care : 134914
HIV/AIDS : Lead NGO in West Godavari
Secondary care : 53666 referrals
MCH : 12000 antenatal checkups and 420000 children immunized
CARE Rural Health Mission has taken over this project.
Technology Info
Purpose: Extending Geographic Access
Purpose: Improving Diagnosis and Treatment
