Sustainability

Experts say that CSR and government can help to ensure long-term child health. In 2020, 6-7 million children may have suffered from severe malnutrition around the world, and immunisation rates had plummeted. Top experts emphasised the critical role that firms' Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives may play in supporting child health projects, particularly at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has severely interrupted child health delivery across the country. They emphasised the critical need to invest in building health systems to protect children's health, as well as the ways in which organisations can help ensure long-term sustainability. In the last two years, COVID-19 has posed a major threat to children's health. By the end of last year, the number of children living in poverty was predicted to have risen by 60 million. In 2020, an additional 6-7 million children may have suffered from severe malnutrition around the world, and vaccination rates have plummeted. Indrashil Kaka-Ba and Kala Budh Public Charitable Trust, Cadila Pharmaceuticals' philanthropy arm, and Global Health Strategies Institute co-hosted the webinar on The Role of CSR in Building Sustainable Change in Child Health (GHSi). On February 18, the birth anniversary of Cadila Pharmaceuticals' Founder Chairman Indravadan A. Modi, also known as the Medicine Man of India, the conversation took place. Dr. Bharat Champaneria, Trustee of the Indrashil Kaka-Ba and Kala Budh Public Charitable Trust, was among the panel's high-level experts. He has spent the last four decades working in Gujarat's Hansot taluka, in the Bharuch district, to enhance the health and well-being of the local community. ""When it comes to ensuring the efficacy of health systems on the ground, a shortage of technical services, such as specialist doctors, is a major concern." health infrastructure is sometimes a barrier. "I've been working in Hansot for over 40 years and hope that we can develop strong coalitions to promote long-term health change," Dr. Champaneria stated, emphasising the importance of working together to improve health systems on the ground. Yogesh Chaudhary, the District Development Officer (DDO) of Bharuch, highlighted the Gujarat government's efforts to improve last-mile delivery of health care when speaking about emphasising sustainable systems for child health. "As part of their strategy, CSRs should assess the value they offer to the ground and track the efficacy of their contributions." In the health-care industry, there are both concrete and intangible variables at play. "Any external funding is welcome," Mr. Choudhary said, "and we are glad to collaborate with anybody interested in improving health systems." Mr. Niraj Lal, Head of CSR at Arvind Limited, discussed the need of private-public collaborations in strengthening ground-level health care. "A cause-led partnership model built between corporations, technical partners, and government institutions in a focus geography could be an effective way to address service gaps and system strengthening," "A long-term vision, sustainability plan, and focused approach are key factors for a CSR programme to work well, in whatever subject area in which they operate," he stated. Regular health screenings at schools and Anganwadis, routine referral follow-ups via home visits, and activating nutrition programmes like PM Poshan, Weekly Iron & Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS), and others are among the project's activities. Along with the webinar, SAAHAS developed a Facebook page where major highlights and advancements relating to the project will be shared.

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