Alison Dembo Rath
Global Health Strategist
Working with the Government of Odisha to strengthen health, nutrition and WASH services, particularly for those living in rural areas
Between 2008 and 2015 we supported the government of Odisha, India to improve the health and nutrition of its population, leading a UK Aid-funded programme of technical support working closely with government counterparts in country. Our experts worked as an integral part of government departments at state and district levels to support stronger convergence between the health, nutrition and WASH sectors, in line with state plans to:
Between 2008 and 2012, we worked on health reform and systems strengthening, led by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, and helped set up district-level support to the Department of Women and Child Development. From 2012, in partnership with IPE Global, we increased our focus on nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene. We provided intensive support in 15 nutritionally vulnerable districts in Odisha, geared towards improving the availability and quality of WASH services. We worked with communities to promote the use of these – and broader health and nutrition – services. We also developed ways in which communities could engage with local government and service providers to ensure that services are responsive to their needs, and that the government could be held to account when high quality services are not available.
Project achievements
Global Health Strategist
A case study of how transforming the health system is achieving greater equity
Odisha State in Eastern India is strengthening the health and nutrition systems to achieve greater equity.
We worked with the Government of Odisha, India to improve sanitation and support villages to become open defecation free.
New evidence highlights urgent need for multi-sectorial approach to address child malnutrition in Odisha.
This is how our Shakti Varta helps improve maternal and newborn health and child nutrition and sanitation in Odisha, India.