Introduction

Social Medicine encompasses all dimensions and disciplines that effect the human health, hence it is multi-disciplinary & multi-dimensional.

The recognition that the discipline of Preventive and Social Medicine (PSM), Community Dentistry, Community Nursing, Community Physiotherapy does have limitations to address all the societal needs in a holistic approach and hence needed to be strengthened was the major impetus for establishing a separate Center for Social Medicine (CSM).

The CSM was set up by Pravara Medical Trust, Loni and

Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Loni as a separate Unit in the year 2001, outside the confines of a medical, dental, nursing and physiotherapy colleges so that it could enrich itself through wider interaction with the various disciplines of medicine, allied health sciences, natural and social sciences and community groups. The Center was recognized as a Constituent Unit of Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences – Deemed University by Ministry of HRD, & UGC.

The Mission

To support and encourage interdisciplinary research, training, and services in the field of social medicine and community development for the benefit of students, faculty and the needy community at large.

The Vision:

The vision is to be a leading Center of Excellence in Social Medicine, health equality and community development.

The Objectives:

1. To understand the health problems and needs of the rural and other vulnerable sections of the community with a view to find workable solutions in the existing social structure.
2. To delineate the structural constraints which limit the scope of health interventions in the community.
3. To train and nurture the students in the field of social medicine, rural health and allied health sciences.
4. To conduct and promote research & scholarship in social medicine and allied sciences
5. To provide comprehensive community oriented primary health care to the needy
6. To bring behavioural changes and empower people for their health and development.
7. To develop networking and partnership with individuals and organizations

The Approach

The CSM collaborates with faculty, staff and students from various departments and academic programmes across the University including medicine, dentistry, nursing, physiotherapy, biotechnology, bioscience management, ayurveda etc. The Center also encourages international, national, regional, and community partnerships to foster a culture of interdisciplinary team work and a community of scholars at the cross roads of health and social sciences.

Core Competencies

The following core competencies that are required to achieve the objectives of the Center are drawn from within the constituent institutes of the University and sister institutes in the area.

• Community Medicine
• Epidemiology & biostatistics
• Population studies & demography
• Occupational health & agricultural medicine
• Natural and Environmental Sciences
• Social Sciences – Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Behavioural Sciences
• Psycho-immunology (meditation and yoga)
• Biotechnology, Bioinformatics and Information technology
• Management Sciences
• Health Financing and Economics

Broad Areas of Activites

The Center follows interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral approach and functions under six main thrust areas:

1. Community & Social Health Interventional Research
2. Community Oriented Primary Health Care & ‘out-reach’ activities
3. Education & Training (Formal, Informal, Vocational, Self-employment/Skill-development/ transfer)
4. Advocacy & Behavioural Change Communication
5. Information and Communication Technology (e-health, e-empowerment)
6. Networking & Collaborations – Global, National, Regional

Training and Education

The Center offers M.Sc (Rural Health) and PG Diploma in Epidemiology and Health Management - innovative and first of its kind courses from 2010-11. The main trust of the Centre however is to offer short term Vocational and Skill based / transfer training programs for the rural health workers and community at large. The Centre conducts empowerment programmes to village women, school teachers, anganwadi workers, traditional healers, and traditional birth attendents. The Center also conducts training and demonstration on eco-friendly environemnt, healthy village, health promoting schools, medicinal gardens etc to farmers, village leaders, school teachers. and self employment training and promotion to women, drop-out girls, HIV/AIDS widows.

Self Help Group and PLW HIV/AIDS group

The Center is continuously working for the empowerment of rural woman through Women Self Help Group. The Center is also working for the empowerment of the people living with HIV/AIDS. The self help groups were trained in various self employment schemes. Following are the details of the self employment schemes

1. Vermi Composting Production Units : 100 SHG
2. Plant Nursery Production & Distribution Units :40 SHG
3. Drone Production & Distribution Units : 03 SHG
4. Supplementary/Nutritious Food Preparation Units (Floor mills) : 10 SHG
5. Hosiery/Embroidery/Ready Made Garments Units (Sewing Machines) : 05 SHG
6. Spirulina Production & Demonstration Units: 04 SHG
7. Detergent Powder (Shubhra +) Manufacturing Units : 04 SHG
8. Candle Making Units : 02 SHG
9. “Shakti +” Preparation Units : 06 SHG
10. Kitchen Garden Set Preparation : 01 SHG
11. Schemes on Traditional Products (Brooms, Nachani Papad, Honey bee ) : 60 SHG