Elmhirst Institute of Community studies is the Birbhum district partner of White Ribbon Alliance since 2009 with the objective of reducing maternal death and increased awareness and understanding of maternal health issues at all levels. Since April 2015 we have been working in an advocacy program on “Quality of Care” for improved maternal health. The advocacy platform unites WRAWB partners, Key Influential’s, elected representatives and government officials for overall improvement of quality of maternal healthcare services.

Activities conducted during the reporting year:

• On 11 April 2018, Elmhirst Institute observed Safe Motherhood Day. The function started with the welcome address of Mr. Priyam Mukherjee, acting secretary of EICS. His speech was followed by talks on healthcare and motherhood given by other speakers viz. Aloka Poddar, Governing Body member, Mr Sanjib Chatterjee, Ms Swapna (District Trainer) Ms. Urmi Das (District Coordinator, Birbhum, WRA). About 120 persons including the members of ASHA of Illambazar and Nanoor blocks of Birbhum attended the programme. The residents of ‘Kshanika’ and ‘Naveena’ Homes staged a campaign drama named “MAA” in the function. The drama was based on quality of care in maternal and child health issues, which was highly appreciated by the audience.
• Patient Satisfaction Survey: During the reporting period, the EICS team carried out the patient satisfaction survey at Murarai-I Rural Hospital and at Nalhati-I Rural Hospital uder Rampurhat Health District, Birbhum with the immense support of the BMOH and other staff members of the concerned health facilities. The information on the patients’ satisfaction with the services, receiving at the health facilities, have been collected from the patients of outdoor as well as indoor of the two health facilities-
  The data have been sent to White Ribbon Alliance, West Bengal Chapter.
• What Women Want (WWW) Campaign: During the reporting period, WWW Campaign was initiated at different places in the district viz. Sonajhuri Hat, Irka village, Labpur Girls School, Gorgoriya High School, Panrui High School, Ballavpur village, Bolpur, Nanoor, Ahmedpur, Sainthia, Nalhati, Murarai, Mallarpur etc. This programme was attended by the ASHAs, AMMs, pregnant mothers, lactating mothers and women folk between the age group 15 to 50 years. The participants expressed what they want for maternal and newborn health services in the existing facilities, in the written statements on the format given. In total, 8270 such formats with women’s statements were collected, compiled and sent to White Ribbon Alliance, West Bengal Chapter.
• On 28 April 2018, Folk media programme was organized at Sonajhuri Hat, Santiniketan. Folksongs  composed on the awareness of quality of care in mother and child health and nutrition were presented. A large number of people attended the programme.