CARE CEO impressed by empowered Bihar Women

New Delhi, January 11, 2011: Still few in the urban metros may accept that Bihar women have empowered themselves a lot in the recent years.

But, at least, Dr. Helene D. Gayle, President and CEO of leading global humanitarian organisation CARE and the Chair of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS in the United States, can now vouch for these women who are often billed as backward socially, economically, and literally.

Speaking out their minds, talking on the latest issues, and spelling out need for health and hygiene, a motley crowd of women in a village called Talihari near Patna made their fellow women of the state proud on Monday by snatching huge admiration from Dr. Gayle.

And the visiting dignitary, who travels a lot to assess development issues in both developing and underdeveloped nations, was obviously impressed, too. “I am very pleased to see that women have come together in a collective and can depend on each other’s support. They are taking charge of their health and are on the way to lead empowered lives,” said Dr. Gayle.

She was on her maiden visit to Bihar, which is on a transformation from the days of its old stigma and where CARE has been active for many decades with a number of initiatives. She also met State Health Minister Shri. Ashwani Chaube and both CARE and the State Government reiterated their commitment to work closely to better the progress of the State in the health sector, especially in improving the maternal and child health.

“All the essential factors for the development of the State are in place. The Government has demonstrated real commitment to improve the status of mother and child. This level of state commitment is very encouraging as CARE looks forward to a close partnership with the Government to implement two big projects to improve maternal and child health,” said Dr. Gayle.

Shri. Chaube recognised CARE’s contribution to the state of Bihar for the last three decades. He appreciated CARE’s partnership and the value it brings through expertise in health & nutrition and community mobilisation. He assured Dr. Helene Gayle of the Government’s full support to CARE in its endeavours.

CARE has launched SWASTH, a Bihar Health Sector Reform to facilitate the development of a comprehensive public health system, a nutrition policy and build the capacity of Health, Social Welfare and Public Health Engineering departments. The other big project is Integrated Family Health Initiative supported the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to improve the delivery of health care services to reduce the maternal, neonatal and child mortality.

Shri Amarjeet Sinha, Principal Secretary- Health, Government of Bihar (GOB), and Dr. N. Vijayalakshmi, Director Integrated Child Development Services (GOB), were also present in the meeting.

Earlier in the day, Dr. Gayle visited a Public Health Centre (PHC) in Maner block to understand the facilities offered as well the coverage of health care services. She met a mother and a new born at the PHC.

At Village Talihari, she met a women’s collective supported by the Women Development Corporation, the Government of Bihar. The women shared how their lives have changed after becoming members of the collective. They said they can now talk about the issues that affect them even in front of men. They have grown in understanding of issues related to their self, livelihoods, health & nutrition and hygiene. They have availed of government sanitation schemes to build free latrines. They were able to do this only after understanding hygiene and its effect on health.

Dr. Gayle was accompanied by Dr. Mohammad Musa, CEO of CARE India, R.N. Mohanty, Chief Operating Officer CARE India, Ms. Alka Pathak, Chief Advocacy and External Relations Officer, Sujeet Ranjan, Bihar State Director, CARE India, and Mukesh Kumar, Team Leader, BHSR.

CARE is a humanitarian organisation working in India since 1950. CARE India is an affiliate member of the CARE International Confederation based in Geneva. By developing the potential of women and girls, CARE helps millions of people effect real, positive changes in their lives, every year. Our relief and development programme addresses the needs and interests of millions of disadvantaged women and girls. We provide improved access to health, education and sustainable livelihoods in ten Indian states.