The voluntary health agencies occupy an important place in community health programme.
"A voluntary health agency may be defined as an organization that is administered by an autonomous board which holds meetings, collects funds for its support chiefly from private sources and expands money, whether with or without paid workers, in conducting a programme directed primarily to furthering the public health by providing health services or health education, or by advancing research or legislation for health, or by a combination of these activities."
In India there are may voluntary health agencies work at national level at present.
Functions
- The voluntary health agencies can help strengthen the work of government agencies by leading personnel, or by contributing funds for special equipment, supplies or services.
- Supporting in education in country.
- Support in environmental sanitation.
- Guarding the work of government agencies.
- Advancing health legislation.
- Pioneering in research and family planning in India.
List of national health agencies in India
- Indian Red Cross Society
- Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh
- Indian Council for Child Welfare
- Tuberculosis association of India
- Bharat Sevak Samaj
- Central Social Welfare Board
- The Kasturba Memorial fund
- Family Planning Association of India
- All India Women's Conference
- The All India Blind Relief Society
- Professional Bodies: For example, The Indian Medical Association, All India Licentiates Association, All India Dental Association, The Trained Nurses Association of India etc.
1. Indian Red Cross Society
Activities of Indian Red Cross Society
- Relief work during disaster like earth-quakes, floods, drought, epidemics etc.
- Milk and medical supplies.
- Health care to armed forces. The society runs a well-equipped hospital, ‘The Red Cross Home’ in Bangalore.
- Maternal and child welfare services.
- Running of family planning clinics.
- Blood bank and first aid services.
2. Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh
3. Indian Council for Child Welfare
- It was established in 1952.
- It is affiliated with the International Union for Child Welfare.
- The I. C. C. W. has built up a network of State Councils and district councils all over the country.
- The services of I. C. C. W. are devoted to secure for India’s children those “opportunities and facilities, by law and other means” which are necessary to enable them to develop physically, mentally, morally, spiritually and socially in a healthy and normal manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity.
4. Tuberculosis Association of India
- It was formed in February, 1939. It has branches in all the States in India.
- It works for prevention, control, treatment and relief of tuberculosis.
- Publication of the prestigious Indian Journal of Tuberculosis quarterly being uninterruptedly published since 1953.
- Organization of the National Conference on Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases.
- TB Seal Campaign is organized every year.
- Providing quality diagnosis and treatment services through its New Delhi TB Centre.
- Training of doctors, health visitors and social workers in antituberculosis work.
5. Bharat Sevak Samaj
6. Central Social Welfare Board
The Central Social Welfare Board was established in 1953 by
the Resolution of Govt. of India to carry out welfare activities for promoting
voluntarism, providing technical and financial assistance to the voluntary
organisations for the general welfare of family, women and children.
The objectives of setting up Central Social Welfare Board were
to work as a link between the government and the people.
The Board initiated, in 1968, “Family and Child Welfare
Services” in rural areas for the welfare of women and children.
The Board has also started a scheme of Industrial
Cooperatives to help the lower-middle class women in urban areas supplement
their family income by doing paid work.
7. The Kasturba Memorial fund
The Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Fund was established
in 1945.
The main objectives of improving the life of women,
especially in the villages, through gram-sevikas.
8. Family Planning Association of India
Family Planning Association of India is a social impact
organisation delivering essential health services focusing on sexual and
reproductive health in 18 states of India.
It is established in 1949 and it headquarter at Mumbai.
The Association has branches all over the country.
The association has trained several hundred doctors, health
visitors and social workers.
The main objectives of organisation are all people empowered
to enjoy their sexual and reproductive health choices and rights in an India
free from stigma and discrimination.
9. All India Women's Conference
All India Women’s Conference was founded in 1927 and
registered in 1930 under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1850.
It is an organisation dedicated to the upliftment and
betterment of women and children.
It has now branches all over the country and most of the
branches are running M. C. H. Clinics, Medical centres, and adult education
centres, milk centres, and family planning clinics.
10. The All India Blind Relief Society
The all-India Blind Relief Society was established in 1946
with a view to coordinate different institutions working for the blind.
It organizes eye relief camps and other measures for the
relief of the blind.
11. Professional Bodies
The
Indian Medical Association, All India Licentiates Association, All India Dental
Association, The Trained Nurses Association of India are all voluntary agencies of men
and women who are qualified in their respective specialties and possess
registerable qualifications.
These professional bodies conduct annual conferences, publish journals, arrange scientific sessions and exhibitions, foster research, set up standards of professional education and organize relief camps during periods of natural calamities.
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