The Disha Clinic, an innovative approach by the Delhi State government under the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) aimed at adolescent health, faces difficulties in reaching its target population.
By Nibedita Phukan
As a development professional, I find that being confined to my office can divert my focus from the primary goal of my work in this sector. Many others may share this experience. Being a field-oriented person, my motivation comes from interacting with people. Recently, I visited an impoverished urban community near Sarai Rohila Station in Delhi, where I engaged with two groups of women and girls aged 12 to 35. Our discussions centered around menstruation, revealing widespread misinformation and myths about menstrual hygiene, such as avoiding bathing during the first two days or refraining from religious activities.
Interestingly, younger girls displayed more practical knowledge and a willingness to learn new methods for maintaining menstrual hygiene. They were eager to learn about the reasons and processes behind menstruation, seeking alternative methods beyond sanitary pads. Despite the lack of low-cost sanitary pads in their community, some girls occasionally do receive sanitary pads from their schools but those are not enough. The community, predominantly migrants living in poor, non-permanent settlements, faces neglect, especially concerning women and girls’ reproductive and sexual health.
Out of the 30 women and girls I met that day, signs of severe anemia were evident from their pale eyes and skin. One pregnant woman disclosed a hemoglobin level of six, indicating a significant health concern. Despite government initiatives, such as the distribution of iron and folic acid tablets and the implementation of the mid-day meal programme, challenges in effective execution persist. The Disha Clinic, an innovative approach by the Delhi State government under the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) aimed at adolescent health, faces difficulties in reaching its target population.
A study conducted by one of our interns at the Centre for Health and Social Justice revealed issues with limited awareness and underutilization of DISHA clinics among adolescents in Delhi. To address this, efforts should focus on raising awareness, improving accessibility, and promoting utilization of DISHA clinics. The goal is to enhance the overall health and well-being of adolescents. Key challenges include insufficient promotion of DISHA clinics, lack of awareness about their existence and services, inadequate collaboration with educational institutions and community organizations, and the impact of taboos, social stigmas, and cultural norms hindering open discussions on adolescent health.
Moreover, a lack of comprehensive training and sensitization of healthcare providers, coupled with financial and resource constraints, has hampered the effective delivery of services at DISHA clinics. Addressing these challenges is crucial to ensure that the innovative approach of Disha Clinics successfully meets the health needs of adolescents in Delhi.
Nibedita Phukan has worked with the development sector for more than 18 years, primarily in roles related to research, policy advocacy, and strategic partnership building in the fields of gender, reproductive health, and climate change.
