Total Health, a CSR initiative under Apollo Foundation, has been proclaimed Champion of the NATHEALTH CSR Awards for its health service delivery. The award was presented by Ms Smriti Irani, Union Minister of Women and Child Development, GoI, in New Delhi.
NATHEALTH, a body of India’s top healthcare providers and stakeholders, was founded in 2012, to work along with policy makers and facilitate improvement of infrastructure, access, and innovation in quality healthcare. The body recognizes CSR projects benefiting the health of a community, while also improving their social and economic status in the long term.
Started in 2013 in Thavanampalle, near Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, Total Health focuses on prevention of disease and protection against its complications, for approximately 50,000 residents of Thavanampalle. Its healthcare is four-fold: at the doorstep, through mobile vans, at clinics, and via free health screening camps. The treatment at clinics is offered at the nominal charge of Rs 5 and medicines are provided at a 30% discount.
Through the pandemic, Total Health established Covid-19 isolation centres, organized free vaccination drives, and conducted awareness sessions in 32 gram panchayats in convergence with the local government.
In this way, it has covered about 189 villages in the mandal, and brought 1,750 people with non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer) under management. Total Health has been able to achieve this through continuous follow up and counselling on lifestyle modification. Its yoga programme has been especially beneficial, with trainers holding regular classes for patients, residents, and school students.
Individual health, the foundation has learnt, is deeply rooted in community and planet health. So, for Total Health, medical treatment is just one arm of its work. It places equal importance on running nutrition centres for the community’s vulnerable population, establishing drinking water plants, connecting solar lights, and providing skilling and livelihood training. Under its Aragonda Vikas Trust, Total Health has trained more than 350 women in making garments and jute bags, securing their financial wellbeing.
Because Total Health is rooted in the area it serves – almost all its staff is recruited from within the community – it always looks for sustainable ways of running projects, such that each gives the community a sense of ownership. This model of long term giving comes without any expiration date, ensuring continuous health progress.
The NATHEALTH award is the latest recognition of Total Health’s efforts, after the GNE Award 2021, the Health Impact Award 2020, ACEF Asian Leadership Award 2018 and more.
“We are honoured to have our efforts recognized by the NATHEALTH body,” says Upasana Kamineni Konidela, Vice Chairperson (CSR), Apollo Foundation. “Our vision of seeing an India that thrives with health of body, mind and spirit is in line with that of NATHEALTH’s. We hope to continue working with other stakeholders in this area to realize this vision. As an organization, we are committed to forging new connections and building collaborations.”
