THIRUMALAI CHARITY TRUST DEVELOPMENT CORE STRATEGIES : HEALTH SERVICES This strategy aims at promoting health among the poor through Education, Prevention, Detection and Treatment. The mechanisms of the public health care system have been linked to public need through our own structure of 10 Health Centres reaching the people pro-actively through a team of 9 Community Health Workers, 75 Village Health Volunteers handling minor illnesses, 40 midwives ensuring safe delivery and 75 School Teachers trained to render First Aid. During 2002-2003, this team handled 74857 patients, while 423 were directed to higher referral centres. Also during the year 9 General Health Camps, 2 Dental Camps and 34 Eye Camps were organised, that handled a total of 2409 patients. Our school health education programmecovered 4227 children in 41 schools. 11 programmes were held in the villages for HIV/AIDS awareness. Rehabilitation camps for the disabled led to physiotherapy for 80 disabled adults and children, surgery for 9, wheelchairs and tricycles for 18,  speech therapy for 5, scholarships for 34 and Identity cards for 370. Here are a few vivid images showing the reach and value of some of these activities.
 

Out-patients at the Health Centre	The central health team
Health workers receiving training certificates	Trained health worker, Dhanalakshmi  with her medical kit box - holding a record of  treating7000 patients who call her "Doctor Amma"
Health worker at a village visit	Spreading the message of healthy babies
The new Health Centre at Keeraisathu	Nutrition awareness
Beneficiaries of Cataract operations at an eye camp	Training to nutrition workers on a disabled child

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