FCDS started its interventions through health education activities in the rural and remote areas across Karnataka.
As Karnataka had been in the list of high prevalence states if India affected by HIV/AIDS, TB and other communicable diseases. FCDS volunteers reached every remote village and educated people on HIV, STIs, TB, malaria and Diabetes. We joined our hands with Govt and CBOs/NGOs, Private Practitioners to address the health issues of state.
We worked very closely with RNTCP-Revised National Tuberculosis Programme and DAPCU-District Aids Prevention and Control Units, sensitized the health staff of govt hospitals, NGO representatives, CBOs at the grass roots, established Sputum collections centers at every panchayath and every private practitioners level. With these good collaborative activities, we could boost 60% higher rate of early diagnosis of new TB cases. Established more number of DOTS providing centers. We received prestigious “well performing NGO of the year 2014 from RNTCP, Tumkur.
We reached out across all the needy villages and generated awareness on various health issues for the 1st 2 years of initiation.
We soon had to realize and expand our efforts in other areas of community issues such as Environment, Unemployment, poverty, Gender inequality, Education, Livelihood, Nutrition, Women and Child development.
So far we have collected 4500 un-employed youths from various parts of state and upgraded their skills such as Home health aid, Security guard, Chefs, Housekeeping, Baby caretakers and placed them on jobs successfully. There is a record average 1st time salary of these placements was Rs.13000/- in the year 2018. It was a hard task to place them on jobs because of lack in skills, just after upgrading their skills, now they are able to have a full time job and sustainable & stable income for their families.
We have formed 785 youth clubs and the number is increasing, have sensitized the rural youth to take part in the development aspects of their respective villages. They are leading the activities such as plantation, protecting green trees, preserving natural water resources, maintaining biodiversity at their village level. This has become a best practice and efforts to replicate the model in every village is on going and it is subject to funding.