Urbanization in India is rapidly advancing, with 40% of the population expected to live in urban areas by 2030. This shift has increased demand for healthcare, but urban populations face challenges like air pollution, inadequate housing, and poor sanitation. The urban poor, in particular, struggle to access healthcare, creating an "urban health disadvantage" that demands targeted interventions. Mysuru, a city in Karnataka with a population of 11 lakhs (2020), faces significant urban health challenges despite relatively good healthcare infrastructure. Around 18% of the population lives in slums, placing pressure on the city's healthcare system. While Mysuru has high rates of institutional deliveries and child immunizations, issues like child malnutrition, anemia, and low preventive care persist.
A 2022 study by HSTP, in collaboration with the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust, identified key barriers to healthcare access in Mysuru. Significant gaps remain in maternal and neonatal care, early breastfeeding initiation, and child nutrition. Only 50% of newborns were breastfed within an hour, and 27% of children under five were stunted, while 24% of pregnant women were anemic. Mysuru’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of 84 per lakh live births (2019) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of 22 per lakh (2021) highlight systemic healthcare issues, including poor coverage and lack of resources. Addressing these challenges through an urban health project is critical for improving healthcare in Mysuru and could serve as a model for other urbanizing cities in India.
The Infosys Foundation Samagra Urban Mother and Child Project, implemented in partnership with the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka, addresses healthcare disparities in Mysuru. Focusing on Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child, and Adolescent (RMNCHA+) health outcomes, the project aims to strengthen urban primary healthcare services, especially for vulnerable populations.
Covering four Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) in Mysuru, the project integrates disease prevention, health promotion, and service delivery enhancement. It fosters community involvement through the formation of peer support groups, ward committees, and partnerships with local organizations. The initiative also emphasizes data-driven interventions, such as digitizing health records and providing Arogya kiosks for referrals and screenings.
Expected outcomes include the development of a scalable urban primary healthcare model in Mysuru, enhancing RMNCHA+ services, and fostering active community participation. By promoting convergence between the Health and Family Welfare Department and the City Corporation, the project seeks to improve service delivery and reduce health inequities.
Over its four-year duration (2023-2027), the project will serve as a learning site for other urban cities in India. Moving forward, it will focus on expanding partnerships with YUVA SPANDANA Kendras, engaging empanelled hospitals, and optimizing healthcare delivery through digitalization and continuous feedback mechanisms. The goal is to ensure a sustainable and replicable urban healthcare system in Mysuru.
A 2022 study by HSTP, in collaboration with the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust, identified key barriers to healthcare access in Mysuru. Significant gaps remain in maternal and neonatal care, early breastfeeding initiation, and child nutrition. Only 50% of newborns were breastfed within an hour, and 27% of children under five were stunted, while 24% of pregnant women were anemic. Mysuru’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of 84 per lakh live births (2019) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of 22 per lakh (2021) highlight systemic healthcare issues, including poor coverage and lack of resources. Addressing these challenges through an urban health project is critical for improving healthcare in Mysuru and could serve as a model for other urbanizing cities in India.
The Infosys Foundation Samagra Urban Mother and Child Project, implemented in partnership with the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka, addresses healthcare disparities in Mysuru. Focusing on Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child, and Adolescent (RMNCHA+) health outcomes, the project aims to strengthen urban primary healthcare services, especially for vulnerable populations.
Covering four Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) in Mysuru, the project integrates disease prevention, health promotion, and service delivery enhancement. It fosters community involvement through the formation of peer support groups, ward committees, and partnerships with local organizations. The initiative also emphasizes data-driven interventions, such as digitizing health records and providing Arogya kiosks for referrals and screenings.
Expected outcomes include the development of a scalable urban primary healthcare model in Mysuru, enhancing RMNCHA+ services, and fostering active community participation. By promoting convergence between the Health and Family Welfare Department and the City Corporation, the project seeks to improve service delivery and reduce health inequities.
Over its four-year duration (2023-2027), the project will serve as a learning site for other urban cities in India. Moving forward, it will focus on expanding partnerships with YUVA SPANDANA Kendras, engaging empanelled hospitals, and optimizing healthcare delivery through digitalization and continuous feedback mechanisms. The goal is to ensure a sustainable and replicable urban healthcare system in Mysuru.
