Himalayan Health Initiative (HHI)/ Mori Swasthya Foundation (MSF) Activity Report 2021- 2025
Introduction
Following a camp in Uttarakhand in 2014 and a camp in Dwarka (Gujarat) in 2017/18 there was on the ground identification of a need for permanent support.
A small team of 7 began planning in the midst of the 2020 pandemic and the Himalayan H ealth initiative (HHI) Charity was officially registered on 19 May 2021. Our sister concern, Mori Swasthya foundation was registered as a non-profit organisation with the government of India on 17 March 2021.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide quality ophthalmic and primary healthcare services and training to health workers and the people of Uttarakhand, through a more personalized, kinder, professional and more family friendly approach focussing on prevention of diseases.
Our Trustee
There are 9 trustees including Doctors, Accountants, Volunteers, Small business owners and Finance and IT professionals that comprise our committee responsible for the operations, planning and strategy of HHI/MSF.
Our Location
Why we chose Mori
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Mori is in a central location in Uttarakhand state in India and is surrounded by villages that need support
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There is a need to serve this community given the lack of available healthcare resources (the closest primary healthcare facilities are 10km away in a mountainous area where most people do not have means of transport)
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The nearest Tertiary hospital is more than 6 hours away by road
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Mori had good access to electricity, water, internet connectivity, transport and communications infrastructure
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We have good relationship with NGOs on the ground in Uttarakhand (SRADHA)
Objective
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Promote and preserve the health of the general public in the Himalayas
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Empower the local population to be self sufficient and provide services to promote public health and hygiene
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Raise the education level of the public in health matters
4. Build a vision center/primary healthcare center to prevent visual impairment and support early detection of diseases
How we operate
The clinic is run by two onsite ANM nurses and a pharmacist who are assisted by a support worker & doctors both in the UK and India. The clinic is open 6 days a week and provides free of charge primary healthcare services and medicines to anyone who requires treatment. We work closely with the local government healthcare services to provide ANC/PNC care. We take a team of volunteers from the UK (including Paediatricians, General Practitioners, Obstetricians, Optometrists and general volunteers) twice a year to conduct high volume medical/optometry camps and to train the nurses.
Telemedicine/Zoom calls
Every Saturday morning we have a zoom call from UK with our staff to get a report about their activities during the previous week and plan what we need to do the following week. During the week we also give them ad hoc advice on phone about patients who come to our clinic. They will seek advice on phone or bring the patients to the clinic on a Saturday so we can see the patients on video and make diagnosis , provide advice, treatment or arrange appropriate referrals to higher centers.
Health Education for local school children
At every visit we have provided health education talks for children at the local secondary school and Kasturba Gandhi girls hostel in Kharsadi. We provide them information about Nutrition, hygiene, immunization, menstrual health etc.
Teaching and training for local Health care workers
We provide training and teaching in conjunction with local health authorities. Every time the team from UK visits Kharsadi village, which is usually twice a year, doctors provide training sessions for local Anganwadi workers, Asha workers and ANMs. We Also do training sessions for our own inhouse staff which includes ANM, Pharmacist, General worker. Our optometrist has also conducted training sessions for local health care workers. Our Volunteers from UK have provided IT training for our staff.
Our success to date
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4697 general patients seen to date (between 2022 and 2025)
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611 Opthalmology and Optometry patients seen
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26 cataract patients operated
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74 high blood pressure patients who get regular medicines and check ups
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25 Diabetes patients who get regular check up, advice and medicines
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71 patients get regular blood check ups done in conjuction with local primary healthcare centres
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425 people engaged in training sessions covering health education, menstrual health, public hygiene and family planning
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1253 ANC/PNC patients treated (between 2022 and 2024)
Future plans
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Set up an Ophthalmology unit which can be run by optometrist once a month. ( Rs 20 Lakhs)
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Purchase a site and build our own bespoke clinic with accomodation rooms for volunteers (Rs 80 Lakhs- 1Cr)
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Expand our services to remote higher ground villages of Taluka, Gangad, Osla ,Pawani and Dhatmir using a mobile van (Rs 50,000 per month)
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Start a training center for local health workers and consider providing some remote training from UK
5. We may use our model for another place in India.
Should you wish to transfer/donate our account details are:
UK Account name: The Himalayan Health Initiative (Barclays) Sort Code 20-54-25 Account Number: 90107212