Projects:
NAMCO has been implementing a number of projects focused on improving the health outcomes of communities, women and children in particular since the past two decades or so. The details of various projects implemented in the past and is currently under implementation are detailed below;• District convenor for Tamil Nadu Voluntary Health Association (TNVHA): NAMCO is the official district convenor for Thiruvarur district for TNVHA, a nationally renowned not-for-profit working with the prime objective of enabling good health for poor and the marginalized communities. NAMCO has been the convenor since 2004. As the district convenor, NAMCO takes up the responsibilities for capacity building of NGOs, addressing public health issues in collaboration with health department, and for conducting awareness campaigns on adolescent girls and women health.
• RCH (Reproductive Child Health) Project: In year 1999 -2000, NAMCO implemented a project under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. NAMCO partnered with the Gandhigram Family Welfare Trust. The project aimed at raising awareness of women and girls on reproductive tract infection and measures to protect from the same. It also focused on positive behaviour change communication enabling women to adopt recommended practices.
• Reduction of Domestic Violence: During 2002 – 04, NAMCO implemented a project under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in partnership with the Gandhigram Family Welfare Trust. In addition to reproductive health, the project mainly focused on building awareness in families on ending domestic violence on women. The project attempted to enhance the awareness on the target communities that for many social and economic reasons, the practice has to be ended. They were informed of the legal consequences of such domestic violence. The project resulted in enhanced awareness level of both men and women and thus reduced reported domestic violence.
• Maternal and Child Health Project: In year 2007 – 08, NAMCO was supported by TNVHS to implement a project focused on maternal & child health. The major components of the project included
o first aid training for women and girls,
o understanding anaemia and measures to control,
o strengthening the Watchdog Committees or the Village Level Child Protection Committees
The project focused on building knowledge, skills and capacities amongst women and girls for improved maternal and child health.
• Awareness on HIV / AIDS: NAMCO implemented a project on building the awareness on HIV / AIDS during 2005 – 07. The project was sponsored by TNVHS. There were a lot of myths around the disease. People affected with HIV/ AIDS were treated like outcasts within the families and societies. The project focused on demystifying the disease and how people become more responsible towards PLHAs (Persons Living with HIV/ AIDS).
• Care & Support for PLHAs: Under the same partnership, NAMCO implemented a project in 2007 – 08 to provide care and support to the PLHAs in Nagapattinam district. In addition to working directly with the PLHAs, the project also focused on building awareness of their families and communities on what care and support they can provide to their affected members.
• Ambulance Service and Patient Counselling Centre: NAMCO was awarded a three-year project under the aegis of Tamil Nadu Health System Project (TNHSP) by the Ministry of Health, Government of Tamil Nadu during the period 2008 – 2011. As part of the project, NAMCO took the responsibility of operating the ambulance service in Thiruthuraipoondy and Mannargudi blocks of Thiruvarur district. In addition, NAMCO was also entrusted with the responsibility of running the patient counselling centre in both the blocks at their Government Hospitals. NAMCO was able to leave a mark of quality in the performance of the ambulances and the counselling centres. It was able to set new benchmarks for adoption by the Ministry.
• Health Camps: In partnership with Fullerton India Private Limited, financial services corporate, NAMCO had organized 10 health camps, each covering a village, thus impacting 10 villages in Thiruvarur district. NAMCO ensured that maximum people participated in the health camps and got screened for various health issues. They were given treatment where possible and for chronic cases, they were advised to take approach the hospitals in their vicinity to take required medicines and treatment. Some were diagnosed with symptoms that required immediate attention. They were referred to bigger hospitals in Tanjore and Trichy.
In year 2020-21, when the Covid pandemic was ravaging the world, NAMCO had organized health camps in 10 villages to identify people with early symptoms and advised them to quarantine or for immediate hospitalization depending on their health conditions. NAMCO received the support from a NGO – WORD with its base in Namakkal, Tamil Nadu.
• Training on Nutrition: NAMCO received support from TNVHS for conducting a training program on nutrition for NGOs in 2017 – 18. As many as 15 NGOs from various districts participated in the program. The training focused on providing practical knowledge on enabling communities address their nutritional challenges. Often, women and children are the worst affected from lack of nutrition. The training helped the participants to look at simple interventions that can enable communities improve their access to nutrition.
Relief for PLHAs: NAMCO has been supporting the PLHAs living in the district of Thiruvarur since 2017. NAMCO provides them with rations required for survival. NAMCO also extends support for such persons to access regular treatment from the Government hospitals.