© 2023 Dr Margaret Sheppard

Health

Poor health was one of the major problems identified by those interviewed. They not only lacked resources to attend clinics and hospitals often far away, but many preferred to seek the various other traditional alternatives available (For further details, see in particular, sections on :

“Health” :  https://www.sheppard.me.uk/sri-lanka/health/index.html    

“Dances”: https://www.sheppard.me.uk/sri-lanka/dances/index.html;

“Beliefs” https://www.sheppard.me.uk/sri-lanka/beliefs/index.html)

Another scheme that has been organized via the local JBS is the Community Based Rehabilitation of the Disabled. Members have identified households where there is a specific health problem or disability where the individual is not utilizing available health facilities. For example disabilities such as hearing, sight or speech defects, mental disorders, mobility problems, physical deformities etc. These people are then encouraged by health volunteers to visit special locally held clinics where they see a doctor who assesses their health problem, and then encourages them to attend the local hospital or clinic where they will be able to receive the treatment or therapy they require for their condition.

These Health Assistants would for example, identify  people suitable for help from the British charity "Sightsavers", which provides cataract operations, glasses and other eye treatments.

Social Mobilizers assist the local membership lo improve their health. For example they discuss nutrition and sanitation with members - the importance of eating a balanced diet, boiling all  drinking water. keeping clothes and bodies clean and having houses sprayed against malaria and dengue. They also discuss family planning and the importance of building toilets and clean wells. (At district level training courses they learn about the simple and effective designs for wells and toilets.) They encourage members to have their children immunized at the local clinics and to seek medical advice at their local government clinics when necessary.

New social programmes based on the JBS are developed (with the assistance of the social mobilizers) as members identify or decide there is a social need they will then go on to initiate one. For example in 1993 a Janashakthi Programme was initiated for helping the elderly. Outside assistance from Help Age Canada was arranged via the WDF. This programme now has a Project Officer and 52 Assistants (one for each bank society) these personnel are responsible for overseeing programmes aimed at the elderly. Members and the Project Assistants identify the needy cases, organize clinics, the provision of spectacles, hearing aids, medicines etc. They identify any special need such as organise social meetings to alleviate loneliness, and or day care, walking sticks, wheelchairs etc.

At RWDS meetings there is often a guest speaker who advises on simple and practical  public health measures, family nutrition, environmental issues, family planning etc.