WASH Program

Goodricke operates in a total of 27 tea estates in the Assam Valley and West Bengal. Spread over a vast land mass of 252.2 Square Km, Goodricke directly support a resident population of 169,945. We are responsible for their well-being and ensure their welfare through several healthcare delivery programs and primary amongst these is the WASH Program.

FUNDAMENTAL PILLARS OF THE WASH PROGRAM:

 A comprehensive Disease Tracking Chart, generated from the Garden Hospitals, helps to identify problem areas in specific clusters of residential houses. Once these areas are identified the WASH program is implemented as a preventive measure to improve the quality of lives of the resident population.

The WASH program is coordinated at each tea estate by a qualified team of individuals:

WASH is aimed at ensuring availability of good quality Water, improved ventilation in residential houses, good sanitation facilities and high standards of hygiene to ensure good health of residents.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

In accordance with a Welfare calendar/routine to identify gaps that might exist in these four areas Water, Air, Sanitation and Hygiene, the Health Assistant visits residential areas periodically and records them for remedial corrective action immediately.

60 to 70% of sickness in residential areas is linked to the lack of awareness in key factors such as household ventilation and personal hygiene.

Viral fever is a common ailment among the resident population. It is the local custom to neither wash nor change clothing during fever. Through the WASH program, the health and welfare team have encouraged residents to understand the dangers of secondary infection, which may develop due to bacterial growth on the skin surface. Daily sponging or bathing and changing into clean clothes is encouraged, to reduce sickness and to promote general good health. Health Camps are held throughout the year to support regular training of residents on personal hygiene.

Patients attending OPD with fever generally live in the same houses and work on the same lines. Lack of ventilation perpetuates viral fever, therefore proper ventilation is essential in all houses. The Health and Welfare team supplies the residents with relevant information and examples of how to ensure proper ventilation is maintained in their living and working spaces.

The program involves behavioral and sociological changes, we have involved women on the estate at every level to ensure the long-term success of the program. A MOTHERS’ CLUB has been created to ensure information reaches all female residents.