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Over the past decade, Hyderabad has been buzzing with commerce and simultaneously, seen a rise in the number of slums due to rapid urbanization and lack of effective urban planning. The latest census data reveals that the slum population of the Telangana capital has increased by an astounding 264% and accounts for almost 33% of its total population (7 million). More than half of its slum population (2.3 million) have lived in Hyderabad for over 10 years and the remaining migrated here from different parts of India in the last decade. These slum dwellers are mainly street vendors and construction labourers or are engaged in unorganised economic sectors.
The total number of slum households in the metropolitan is somewhere around 0.5 million. This burgeoning urban poor population live in grim conditions without basic civic amenities like safe drinking water and sanitation, which adversely affects their immune system and increases their vulnerability to infectious and communicable diseases like tuberculosis, diarrhoea, pneumonia, malaria and dengue. Lack of public healthcare services and absence of health-seeking behaviour in these underserved communities further makes it challenging for them to lead a healthy life.
With the aim of catering to the healthcare needs of underprivileged families and children, Smile Foundation has launched its Smile on Wheels (SoW) programme in Hyderabad with the support of Open Text. Under this initiative, 12 slums have been identified as target areas including N.T.R Nagar, Indira Nagar, Yellamma Banda, Singareni Colony, Suraram Weaker Section Colony, Shiridi Sai Baba Nagar, Raj Nagar, Narsing Bagwan Temple Nagar, Anjaiah Nagar, Giri Nagar and Sanjay Gandhi Nagar. With a team of medical experts, this mobile van provides all-inclusive healthcare services right at the doorstep of people residing in the aforementioned areas.
Besides rendering promotive, preventive and curative services, the Smile on Wheels conducts a variety of IEC activities and organises regular health camps to reach out to the communities and sensitise them on nutrition and everyday hygiene. It also lays special emphasis on the health of pregnant women and infants through community meetings that cover essential women-related issues like childbirth, ANC/PNC, breastfeeding, immunization and family planning.
A total slum population of 75,000 will directly benefit from this initiative in a year.
The total number of households reached out across 12 slums of Hyderabad is 20,000.
General health check-ups and pathological tests conducted during regular OPD sessions for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Street plays, health talks and several other IEC activities organised to encourage healthy living among underprivileged families and children.
Special focus on women and infants by spreading awareness on childbirth-related issues like ANC/PNC, immunization and breastfeeding.
IN 2014 , A TOTAL OF 12,000 PEOPLE BENEFITED FROM THE INITIATIVE
4500 STUDENTS RECEIVED BENEFIT FROM SCHOOLHEALTH PROGRAMS
OVER100 ICE ACTIVITIES WERE CONDUCTED LAST YEAR, BENEFITING MORE THAN 6500 PEOPLE
IN THE FIRST MONTH OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE STATIC CLINIC PROGRAM A TOTAL265 PEOPLE BENEFITED OF WHICH 57% BENEFICIARIESWERE WOMAN
