Model Rural Health Research Unit, vani

MODEL RURAL HEALTH RESEARCH UNIT (MRHRU)
Vani, Taluka Dindori, District Nashik, Maharashtra

1. About the Scheme

Government of India, in June, 2013, approved the scheme for ‘Establishment of Model RuralHealth Research Units(MRHRUs) in the States’ during the 12th Plan period as a path- breaking initiativeto develop/strength the health research infrastructure in the country for the “Promotion,Coordination and Development of Basic, Applied and Clinical Research”.

The scheme has been developed on the model of a functional rural healthunit of ICMR atGhatampur (UP), which has successfully demonstrated how themodern technologies and research, which are struck up at the national level centers/Medical Colleges, can be transferred and used in the rural settings forproviding better health care to the population.

The scheme is funded by Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

The objectives of the scheme are –

1. Create infrastructure at the periphery for transfer of technology to the rural level for improving the qualityof health services to rural population.
2. To ensure an interface between the new technology developers (Researchers in the Medical Institutions; State or Centre), health systems operators (Centre or state health services) and the beneficiaries (communities in rural areas)
3. Ensure the much needed geographical spread of health research infrastructure in the country

2. About Dindori region

Kasbe Vani village is located in Dindori tehsil of Nashik district in Maharashtra, India. It is situated 17km away from sub-district headquarter Dindori and 45km away from district headquarter Nashik. The total geographical area of village is 3498.03 hectares. Kasbe Vani has a total population of 16,795 peoples, out of which male population is 8,518 while female population is 8,277. Literacy rate of kasbevani village is 73.31% out of which 78.00% males and 68.48% females are literate.

Dindori block has a population of 315709 with 48.8% female population. The Scheduled Tribes make up to 56% of Dindori’s population. Dindori block has a total of 10 functional PHCs with a Rural Hospital each at Kasbe Vani and Dindori. The block is surrounded by the Kalwan, Peth and Surgana blocks of the Nashik district that are also tribal dominated hard to reach areas and face a multitude of health issues.

3. About MRHRU Vani

This is the second MRHRU in the state of Maharashtra. The MRHRU has been made functional in the temporary space provided in the Trauma Care Center building in the premises of Rural Hospital, Vani, District Nashik. A new building to better suit the requirement of clinical, public health and basic research will be constructed in the Rural Hospital Vani campus, adjacent to the current infrastructure.

The sanction for the MRHRU was received on 31.03.2023 and a MOA was signed between ICMR-NIRRCH and Public Health Department, Government of Maharashtra on 10.05.2023.

The MRHRU Vani will serve as an interface between ICMR-NIRRCH Mumbai as the research and mentor, Shri. Bhausaheb Hire Government Medical College& Hospital Dhule as the linked medical college and the Directorate of Health Services, Government of Maharashtra as the facilitator.

Functionaries:
a. Nodal Officers

Activities carried out:
The following activities have been carried out the MRHRU, Vani –

Renovation of the Trauma Care Center building to initiate the MRHRU activities

Visit of Dr V M Katoch, Former Secretary, Department of Health Research and Former Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi and Dr Mrs Kiran Katoch, Former Director, ICMR-NJIL&OMD, Agra. The pioneers of the MRHRU Scheme

Swachhata Pledge: Dr Geetanjali Sachdeva, Director, ICMR-NIRRCH, Mumbai

Ayushman Bhava: Training on Snakebite Envenoming and Sickle Cell Anemia

Shramdaan activities carried out in the MRHRU premises