Carers in Koraput Odisha

A new beginning for carers in Koraput, Odisha

Odisha is considered (by the Tendulkar Committee) to be one of the poorest states in India, with Koraput district commonly identified as one of the 69 districts of India notably disadvantaged regarding poverty, hunger, infant mortality, immunization, literacy, school enrolment and gender disparity.

In the Boipariguda and Koraput Blocks of Koraput, 84% of the general population live below India’s official poverty line, with that figure rising as high as 97% in households where a carer lives. The health situation of the area is very poor. There is only one Community Health Centre (CHC) and one Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) for the whole of the Block, both of which operate with insufficient staff. There is one District Government Hospital in Koraput, but it is more than 100 kms from the farthest villages.

Since the onset of COVID-19, there has been a marked increase in the number of people in Koraput living with mental health conditions due to anxieties about the virus and rising rates of unemployment.

Our partner organisations – Carers Worldwide, Ekta and Society for Promoting Rural Education and Development (SPREAD) – have identified 650 new PWMIE in Koraput who require our support, alongside their carers. Their preliminary findings indicate that provisions for treatment and services for PWMIE in the area is significantly lacking. This is even more so in light of COVID-19, with a lack of health services for non-COVID health issues available at this time.

Aims & Objectives

Baseline analysis of data collected from 650 PWMIE and their carers
Support interagency communication and capacity-building with Ekta and SPREAD staff
Raise awareness and demystify stigma surrounding mental illness and epilepsy
Organise mental health camps to provide the treatment and support for PWMIE

Promote mental resilience and wellbeing of carers in order to meet their own needs and to enable them to better care
Facilitate livelihood support for 100 carers to achieve economic empowerment
Build strong relationships with the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) and other stakeholders

YOU CAN HELP US HELP OTHERS

There are lots of different ways you can get involved. By donating, volunteering, fundraising or simply helping us spread the word about our work, your support will make a huge impact. Together, we can overcome the challenges facing social carers on a global scale.

If you’re interested in getting involved, please reach out to us at: hello@kit4carers.org

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