Dagru

Dagrus of the health care service project of Plus Approach Foundation under the programme of Spandan.

DAGRU- A Reliable Accompany.

It is often heard that a trekker’s troop while making their uphill journey towards higher altitude, gave away some basic medicine like crocin to cure mild fever. While going downhill, they were cheered, blessed and welcomed for next trip. One might see a small temple after every two kilometers, but one would take hours to reach even a primary health care centre. People in hills trust more in their fate than availability of a good doctor. This is the severity of medical aid that any hilly village is surviving with.

The project “DAGRU” was started with a focus to facilitate access of primary medical care for senior residents, aged and underprivileged people. It is centered at Almora, where a project office called “Patient Alert Centre” was opened in the year 2011. Through this centre the foundation strives to reach out as a qualitative medical support system for the village people of Uttarakhad at their door steps, with special attention to needy and weaker sections.

DAGRU, a local dialect which means a companion. Each field boy, project coordinator or volunteer whoever will be associated with this project will be called as a Dagru. He or she will become an integral part of the entire project in achieving excellence and delivering facilities that are at par with the international medical standards. This will gradually cover a broad spectrum of medical facilities by way of linking up with local hospitals and super specialty hospitals.

The project “DAGRU” was started in the district of Almora, on July 2011, with a focus to facilitate access of primary medical care for unprivileged senior and aged people. It is centered at Almora, with a project office called “Patient Alert Centre”. The Dagru sewa is coordinated and volunteered by local youths. It aims to establish good medical support system for the senior and village people of Uttarakhad at their door steps.

One area of life where everybody is needy irrespective of caste, creed, colour, status is the attitude/thinking/mindset. It is one thing that can change one’s life and of countless others to whom the person is connected to.

Patient Alert Centre (PAC), Almora, Uttarakhand appoints trained paramedics as an active and neutral Health Person called “DAGRU”, who visits door steps for routine health check-up of elderly & needy persons of the allotted area.

Objective of the Dagru Project

• To become the 24 X 7 health facilitator and secure good medical facility access for the senior citizens and deprived community
• To conduct awareness workshops on health care, malnutrition, sanitation and community health program, with special attention on eye care and women health
• To organize medical camps that of super specialist and aid to diagnosis of critical ailment
• To establish a reliable support system of Dagrus in the focused area and reach with basic health care support at door steps

Role and responsibilities of Dagru

• “DAGRU” plays his role as bridge between patients and doctors. He or she will become a friend for the concerning patient and be able to share health concerns
• “DAGRU” has knowledge of first aid, primary health services, Routine health check up requirements, nursing, 108 services, NRHM Mobile Hospital Days for the area, ASHA, VHSC, RSBY etc.
• “DAGRU” will facilitate routine health assessment and maintain individual medical history of all patients.
• “DAGRU” will be the reliability and trust factor for every individual they are interacting with and propagate positivity among all for living a healthy life

Dagru project is started to become a facilitator only for the people who needs health care services. All medical treatment or care is to be provided by the nearest hospitals or medical centre available.

Objectivesto be achieved through Dagru project:-

• To become a bridge between patients and hospitals
• Provide free primary health check
• Monitor basic health factors like Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar, ECG etc.
• Create health awareness among people and give education on causes of diseases and preventive measures

• Encourage people to adopt ways of healthy life
• Involve the society in Dagru project with a deep sense of commitment to spread this care in the remotest locality

• Support and increase the content of employment of young mass by way of their involvement as field staff and project volunteers

• To became a reliable health facilitator for every needy individual