Formation of Village Health Committees

FGP/FAP staff draw maps of their village and divide it into blocks of 20-50 households in preparation for the PRA sessions. At the end of each session, the facilitator asks what people think they themselves could do to improve the identified health priorities and invariably, people recognize that they can improve some of them by themselves. The need for a united effort to address these issues is discussed, and consequently, groups form the idea of some sort of village organization, a health committee, that could plan and coordinate people's actions. The facilitator asks what kind of people should lead such an organization and the criteria are listed. Participants are then asked to identify people in their village who fulfill these criteria. These names are added to a list of candidates for the election of the Village Health Committee (VHC) board. Finally, the facilitator suggests that the future health committee should have helpers in each block of the village, and suggests that the group select two people, one man and one woman, from their block to serve on the Village Health Committee. At the end of the analysis process, a village meeting is called. The list of candidates identified in the group sessions is hung up and members of the VHC elect through secret ballot the board members of the Village Health Committee. In addition, a member of the school parliament (student body in each school) is selected to serve on the board.

Village Health Committee meeting


Planning meeting of the Village Health Committee


Village Health Committee meeting