Social Justice and 40 Years of the Jamkhed Model

Health is greatly affected by social issues such as gender discrimination and the rigid caste system. The Comprehensive Rural Health Project (CRHP) in Jamkhed, founded in 1970, serves a population of 1.5 million through its primary and secondary health care programs, hospital, and training center. CRHP demonstrates a sustainable primary health care model based on the principles of equity, integration and empowerment. A grassroots project, reaching the poorest and making health available to all is one of the main ways that CRHP deals with social justice. Through the process of empowerment, gender discrimination has decreased enabling women to be assertive and understand basic rights, which enable them to be effective health agents. This paper discusses the 40-year history of the CRHP primary health care model and how its principle of equity contributes to social justice as a public health imperative in rural Indian villages. Methods: This paper will review the historical records to compare the early days of CRHP and the present to show how the Jamkhed model promotes social justice through its primary health care approach. Results: The infant mortality rate in 1970 was 176/1000 today is 20/1000; the crude birth rate of 40 is now 20. Leprosy, TB and other endemic diseases are virtually eradicated. Through peaceful and cooperative means communities work together to eliminate social stigma, and caste and gender discrimination. Policy Implications: CRHP is an internationally renowned community based health and development organization that influences national and international government health policy, and non-governmental organizations.