Project HOPE, Anchal Charitable Trust release findings of multi-state formative assessment study on NCDs

The formative assessment aims to contribute to design and develop interventions on NCDs with an aim to improve the overall impact of ongoing programmes

Project HOPE and Anchal Charitable Trust released the findings of a  multi-state formative assessment study on NCDs as part of project SCEEN – an integrated approach on capacity building of healthcare practitioners, awareness and early detection on cardiovascular diseases, and cancers (Cervical Cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer). A national dissemination workshop was held to share and discuss the findings of the assessment.

The study assessed the community needs, behaviours and perceptions on NCDs, factors (both demand and supply side) affecting appropriate care seeking for NCDs, and the preparedness of the health system for providing NCD services at various levels of care. The study also assessed the knowledge and capacities of health professionals – state nodal officer, district nodal officers, medical doctors, paramedical staff, and frontline functionaries.

Speaking on the occasion,  Dr Laxmikant Palo, Regional Director-SEA, Project HOPE said, “Our goal from this workshop is to learn more about how to trigger actions to generate and share new knowledge to address NCD programme implementation challenges at state, district, block and community level, and to learn how we can work together to tackle the challenges.”

The assessment was carried out in 16 districts across Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Punjab. The assessment was conducted involving qualitative methods using in-depth interviews (IDIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), and rapid health facility assessment survey to map facility readiness. In total, 115 focus group discussions, 86 in-depth interviews and 16 health facility assessment surveys were conducted, reaching out to over 500 people, local stakeholders and healthcare providers. The methodology focussed on undertaking assessment at three levels: facilities, communities and health systems, the health seeking behaviours and the existing enabling environment.

Nalinikanth Gollagunta,  President and CEO,  GE Healthcare, South Asia  said, “Health interventions are an ongoing and continuous process that take years to drive meaningful impact. We have had a good start in our fight against NCDs through the multiple programmes underway. The SCREEN formative assessment helps us understand some of the challenges and gaps faced on ground in effective implementation of the NCD programmes. This is an opportunity for stakeholders to come together to address those gaps and ensure our fight against NCD, which has had a promising start, gets more thrust in its mission. GE Healthcare looks forward to working in supporting this agenda.”

The findings of the study could help in designing a focussed implementation strategy and will add to the existing body of knowledge on potential future strategies for NCD management across India. It also aims at contributing to planning and implementation of cost-effective strategies to reach out to the targeted population and create mass awareness for increased access and quality delivery of health services.