Summary

Program goals

In India, approximately 8,600,000 people are diagnosed with tuberculosis and 1,300,000 deaths occur from TB. Innovators in Health is committed to providing quality TB diagnosis and treatments and has reached 210,000 rural residents. Since the program's inception, public health institutions, community health organizers, and informal health providers have made more than 9500 referrals from their community and the program has been able to arrange 2593 diagnostics, which 898 were diagnosed and treated for TB. Within 4 years, Innovators in Health has quadrupled access to TB services and treatment in rural India. 

Key program components

Approach:

1. Strengthen Public Health Institutions

Innovators in Health have successfully mobilized 200 female community health workers that are trained to identify suspected cases of TB and refer potential patients to undergo diagnosis. CHWs have collectively delivered TB drugs to approximately 800 patients and have each saved more than 20 lives.

2. Empower Grassroots Workers 

The organization is dedicated to promote the hardwork local health workers engage in. CHWs are responsible for identifying barriers in treatment and understand complex diagnostic protocols. They represent the mission of the organization at stakeholder meetings where they are put on a platform to articulate the needs and successes of their community projects. Women receive high recognition and respect from their local community members, which increases community capacity to support one another. The program is a huge advocate for CHWs to receive fair wages and invests invests in their education, strengthening their agency and confidence.

3. Partnerships with Local Communities

Innovators in Health developed a comprehensive institutional map with thousands of micro-institutions and leaders as a resource to ask for help and advice. These institutions include local government, CHWs, informal healthcare providers, lay people, and community-funded nutrition for malnourished patients.