Karnataka Health Promotion Trust

In India, where many adolescent girls face limiting gender norms and early marriages, KHPT addresses these challenges through its 'Sphoorthi' Role Model Girls’ Empowerment Programme. This transformative initiative empowers girls across three dimensions – building self-development, collective action, and access to resources. The programme trains rural role model adolescent girls (RMAGs) who then guide their peers in challenging gender norms. Life skill education, dialogues, leadership camps, and exposure visits foster critical attitudes towards gender equality and self-esteem. Parents and communities are also engaged to support girls, promoting a shift in social norms. This approach has gained recognition from Government committees and international organisations, contributing to the broader goal of enhancing adolescent health and well-being.

Improving maternal and neonatal health in India remains a challenge despite progress. Inequities in coverage and care quality persist, especially for high-risk groups. KHPT's approach involves strengthening health systems, utilizing grassroots structures, and integrating technology. It focuses on the skill enhancement of healthcare providers, community engagement through committees, and technology integration for data-driven planning. This method ensures access to quality care, from facilities to communities, targeting vulnerable populations. Notably, KHPT's innovations have been adopted by Governments and organisations, yielding positive outcomes, including reduced neonatal and infant mortality rates.

Addressing India's inadequate and fragmented primary healthcare, KHPT employs an implementation research approach to develop context-specific interventions. While the current focus is on reproductive and child health, it recognizes the need to adapt to the evolving health landscape. Its approach involves assessing local primary healthcare, identifying gaps, implementing interventions, and evaluating effectiveness in collaboration with local Governments. Currently, KHPT is enhancing diabetes and hypertension care in urban settings, utilizing technology to promote equitable access and patient-centric care. Its work has influenced national health initiatives and earned recognition for its impact on diabetes awareness and prevention.

KHPT addresses high HIV prevalence among key populations through a multifaceted approach. Its peer-led intervention model focuses on education and behaviour change among vulnerable groups, leveraging the influence of peers for open discussions on sensitive topics. Risk and vulnerability reduction strategies include outreach, knowledge dissemination, access to services, and advocacy with key influencers and authorities. Community mobilization and collectivization empower key populations, preparing them for ownership of HIV programmes. This innovative approach has garnered awards for successful transitions of programmes to Government control, community building, resource mobilization, and programmatic innovation. Globally scaled models encompass peer education, STI management, rural HIV prevention, and prevention of parent-to-child transmission.

KHPT tackles India's significant tuberculosis (TB) burden with patient-centric interventions. Recognizing the socio-economic barriers affecting TB patients' treatment adherence, it employs a socio-ecological approach in the Breaking the Barriers project, addressing structural and underlying issues within vulnerable groups. This approach prioritizes patient and caregiver well-being in a supportive environment. Operating in multiple states, KHPT collaborates closely with national and state TB programmes, contributing to nationwide TB awareness campaigns, training initiatives, and partnerships with leading TB research institutes.