The efforts of ‘BISWA’ to bring down the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) yields positive results in the backward Jujomura block of Sambalpur district. Of course, it is a matter to get complacent that the rate of infant mortality has been reduced to a great extent in Sambalpur district due to public awareness, introduction of Janani Express in the village areas, institutional delivery and overall health care of the maternal mothers. But Jujomura block set a record with lowest IMR all over the district.

However, the scenery was not that as it is now.  The IMR of Jujomura block was 21 in the year 2008. It came down to 15 in 2009. But it witnessed a drastic fall in the year 2010 (by June) and reached only 4 (four). And needless to say that it became possible due to intervention of ‘BISWA’ through the CHIN project in this particular block.
After our intervention, we first tried to resolve the conflict among the community and the service providers that helped in establishing a trust among the service providers and community. Our effort got successful and the common people particularly the expecting mothers and their in-laws accepted the guidelines for safe delivery of babies and their healthy nurturing afterwards. Not only IMR, there has been remarkable improvement in the MMR also, admit the health department in the district.

                                (Source - CDMO office Sambalpur)

A sincere effort by all our staff engaged in the project also helped to achieve the result as desired and they are trying to bring in further development. The following table shows the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in Sambalpur district for three years and Jujomura in particular. Needless to say that this has become possible only for the intervention of ‘BISWA’ and the sincerity of our staff to the cause.  

The ASHA workers also helped in this endeavour. The situation was not that much conducive in the beginning. They were reluctant to accept the suggestion of ‘BISWA’ staff for this purpose.
But after a series of interactions and training programmes they were clarified their roles and responsibility as an ASHA. Training programmes for the ASHAs enhanced their capacity and motivated them. These training modules included a series of participatory dialogue, games, energiser etc. Block officials like Block Programme Officer (BPO), Block Extension Educator (BEE), medical officer of Padibahal Dr. Sanjeev Supkar, Lady Health Visitor (LHV), Maternal & Child Health (MCH) coordinator etc were also part of the trainings.

Although some of them were quite aware of their responsibilities but they were hardly doing any. But after our intervention they have become very much active in their work. There had been cases of certain ASHAs who have really brought about a change and are role model for the others.   Initially due to our intervention many of them thought ‘BISWA’ to be anti- ASHA. They even refused to cooperate and coordinate. Finally after a lot of dialogue and training sessions, they were convinced that ‘BISWA’ was not against them, rather the motto was to serve the maternal mothers and the new borne babies through sincere duties. This resulted in getting an unexpected result for Jujomura as seen above from the government statistics.