Hyderabad's Health Revolution: Bringing Doorstep Care to Slums

A quiet revolution in healthcare is unfolding in the heart of Hyderabad's sprawling slums. Inspired by the groundbreaking success of Tamil Nadu's 'Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam' (Healthcare at People's Doorstep) scheme, the non-profit organization Save the Children is spearheading an innovative initiative to bring vital health screenings directly to the doorsteps of communities often left behind.

For too long, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) like hypertension, diabetes, and certain cancers have silently threatened the health of vulnerable populations, often going undiagnosed until advanced stages.

Recognizing this critical gap, Save the Children, with crucial support from the HCL Foundation, is adopting a proactive approach that promises to transform the health landscape of Hyderabad's underserved areas.

The pilot phase of this ambitious project focuses on ten slums within Uppuguda and Fateh Darwaza, aiming to cover an impressive 2.5 lakh residents.

The core of this model lies in empowering community health workers (CHWs). These dedicated individuals undergo intensive training, equipping them with the knowledge and digital tools necessary to conduct preliminary screenings for key NCDs right within people's homes. This includes checks for blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and initial assessments for breast, oral, and cervical cancers.

The beauty of the doorstep model is its efficiency and accessibility.

Once a potential health concern is identified during the initial screening, the CHWs facilitate immediate referrals. Individuals are directed to nearby Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) for further diagnostic tests and initial treatment. For more complex cases, a seamless pathway to tertiary care hospitals is established, ensuring that no one falls through the cracks due to lack of awareness or access.

This systematic approach aims to alleviate the immense burden on major hospitals by catching diseases early.

P. Balamuralidhar, General Manager of Save the Children, highlighted the profound impact of this proactive strategy, stating, "Our goal is to ensure that early detection becomes the norm, not the exception, especially for communities that face barriers to accessing conventional healthcare." Echoing this sentiment, G.

Naveen Kumar, a representative from the Health Department, commended the initiative for its potential to significantly improve public health outcomes by embedding healthcare directly within the community fabric. This collaborative effort represents a significant stride towards creating healthier, more resilient communities in Hyderabad.