Making Healthcare Accessible: Community Health Drives in Tharyal, Punjab

Centre for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality (CWEGE) trained Community Organiser (CO) facilitated three targeted health interventions in Thariyal village to ensure that essential healthcare services reached those who need them most, women, children, and families with limited access to clinics. Health camps are typically organized based on real-time needs emerging from the community. These may arise during seasonal outbreaks or through requests voiced during SHG and village meetings, where residents share their health concerns. These camps were organised by our CO as a quick response to rising cases of seasonal flu and to address locally expressed demands for vaccination support.

• A polio immunization drive at the Anganwadi Center immunized 65 children, with strong coordination between the CO, Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), Auxiliary Nurse and Mid-Wife(ANM), and Anganwadi staff.
• A general medical camp addressed a rise in fever and cough, providing 50 residents with free check-ups and essential medicines.
• A women and child wellness camp offered BP checks for 13 women and routine vaccinations for children aged 0–15.

Through these health interventions, CWEGE and AMMACHI Labs bridges the gap between rural communities and essential healthcare. By working closely with local health workers and governance bodies, each camp not only provided immediate services but also strengthened trust, awareness, and access, laying the foundation for healthier, more resilient villages.

These health camps not only addressed immediate medical needs but also embodied CWEGE and AMMACHI Labs’ broader mission of empowering rural women as agents of change. By equipping a woman from the community as the CO to lead health access initiatives, the program is fostering a model where solutions are community-driven, gender-responsive, and built on mutual trust. This approach ensures that healthcare is not just delivered, but owned by the community especially by those who are often excluded.