Healthcare
Tollygunge Women In NeedIn addition to running regular medical clinics, multiple initiatives are in place to promote the implementation of the following medical programmes among the beneficiaries across all three projects:
Free Medical Clinic
As a part of TWIN’s community service, the Tollygunge centre facilitates a free weekly medical clinic for TWIN’s beneficiaries, their families and the underprivileged community in the neighbourhood. They are offered free medical consultation and free essential medicines for diabetes, blood pressure, cold & cough, fever, and other common ailments.
Pulse Polio
Pulse Polio Vaccination is a Government programme for the children up to the age of 5 years. In this programme, children are given polio vaccines periodically to eradicate polio and thereby achieve full eradication of the disease from our country. This spreads awareness among the families associated with us and encourages them to get their children’s desired polio doses regularly.
Immunisation
Immunisation is a way of protecting against many serious diseases. Once we have been immunised, our bodies are better able to fight those diseases if we come into contact with them. Initially, the NGO took initiative to vaccinate all its children with the WHO recommended vaccines as well as booster doses to protect the children from preventable diseases. Now, the universal vaccination is a Government programme. The NGO however, monitors that its children are indeed receiving the desired vaccinations, including the booster doses in time.
Pre and Post Natal (PPN) Programme
The PPN programme of TWIN, started in 1998, is designed to improve the state of health of women and their children. The program is based on the fact that ‘healthy mothers give birth to healthy children’. The programme follows two of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals , viz. improve (i) Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and (ii) Mother Mortality Rate (MMR).
The PPN programme has improved the health status of women and children and reduced IMR and MMR by addressing the main causes of morbidity & morality. The safe motherhood component of the programme was implemented through regular gynaecological check-up, vaccination, provision of nutritional diet and medicine supplement during pregnancy and lactating period. ln the ‘child survival’ component, breast feeding and immunization has been receiving the maximum attention.
Eye Check-up & provision for Spectacles
“Better Vision” programme of GKB Opticals, help TWIN in organizing eye check-up camps in its project areas. In these camps, men, women and children of all age groups undergo check-up of their vision for free. Those with impaired vision due to myopia, astigmatism or long-sightedness are provided with free-of-cost spectacles by GKB Opticals. Those with clinical eye ailments are referred to an eye specialist.
Cervical Screening – lmportance of Cervical Screening:
- Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women worldwide and is most common among women living in developing countries.
- The cancer of the uterine cervix is due to HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) infection and is compounded by other factors such as poor genital hygiene (among both women and their partners), frequent deliveries, use of tobacco among other factors.
- The cervical cells do not suddenly change into cancer. The normal cells of the cervix first develop pre-cancerous changes that gradually transform into invasive cancer. The pre-cancerous changes are called cervical intraspinelial neaplasis (ClN) or dysplasia.
- The transformation from pre- cancerous changes to invasive cancer takes several years and can be detected by the PAP test, the HPV DNA test and even a low cost test like VlA (Visual Inspection with Acetic Acetic Acid). All cervical pre-cancers do not transform into invasive cancer.
- Early detection and treatment of cervical pre-cancer can stop their progression into invasive cancer.
- Regular cervical screening camps help detecting signs of dysplasia and it is recommended that all women in the age group 20-65 undergo screening, every three to five years or as often as advised.
Tollygunge Women in Need in association with Chittaranjan National Cancer, Kolkata and Service Beyond Borders,. an NGO based in the USA, organises regular cervical screening camps at its project centers for the purpose.
Cervical Screening Camps in Tollygunge Women in Need
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally. This cancer in the cervix is generally caused by an infection with certain types of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Cervical screening and HPV vaccinations are the best ways to prevent cervical cancer. The highest rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality are in low- and middle- income countries, mainly due to lack of access of regular cervical screening and HPV vaccination. Tollygunge Women In Need in association with Chittaranjan National Cancer Research Institute, Kolkata arranges for regular cervical screening tests for the women beneficiaries of its different project centres.
On 21.11.2024, a cervical screening camp was held for 36 selected women beneficiaries of the Diamond Harbour Project in the Diamond Harbour Project Office. Four staff from Chittaranjan National Cancer Research Institute, namely Rakiba Begum, Monalisa Chitrakar, Shiela Maity and Bablu Naskar came to collect samples to be used for the cervical screening tests of these women beneficiaries. Based on the reports of the urine and swab tests, it was revealed that three of these 36 women beneficiaries, aged 53 years, 35 years and 32 years are affected by the HPV. These three women are now being sent to health officers for proper treatment.
On 09.01.2025, a cervical screening camp was arranged for 27 selected women beneficiaries of Tollygunge Project, in WIN House from 2.00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. The same four staff from Chittaranjan National Cancer Research Institute, who had visited the Diamond Harbour Camp, namely Rakiba Begum, Monalisa Chitrakar, Shiela Maity and Bablu Naskar came to collect the samples for the cervical screening tests of these women beneficiaries of Tollygunge project. The reports of these tests will be available after a few days.
Breast Cancer Screening
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women. The only way to check the spiralling of breast cancer cases is to spread awareness to help women identify the early symptoms and go for screening. WHO puts forward the strategy of population awareness as the model for early detection in low income countries.
TWlN is assisted by HITOISHINI to conduct its breast cancer screening & awareness programmes. HITOISHINI are a support network for breast cancer patients, run entirely by volunteers–many of them are cancer survivors themselves. HITOISHINI are affiliated to UICC, the Reach-to -Recovery International Breast Cancer Support Network based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Breast Cancer Awareness Program in Tollygunge Women In Need
In recent times, Breast Cancer survival rates have been decreasing, much due to the widespread support for the spread of awareness of this disease. Tollygunge Women in Need (TWIN) provides to help its women beneficiaries become aware of this problem by arranging regular lectures delivered by well- informed personnel. It is assisted in this effort by a voluntary organization, HITOISHINI, affiliated to UICC, the Reach-to-Recovery International Breast Cancer Support Network based in Geneva, Switzerland. This year, on January 9, 2025, from 12.30 p.m. to 2.00 p.m., three staff of HITOISHINI, Ms Krishna Dutta, Ms Sumitra Barat and Ms Sharmila Som gave erudite presentations in WIN House, to a group of 22 selected women beneficiaries of TWIN.
Thalassaemia Screening
Thalassaemia is an inherited blood disease in which there is abnormality in the protein portion of the haemoglobin leading to severe anaemia. Screening for Thalassaemia is important as it helps prevention of the occurrence of the incurable disease. If both the parents have abnormal HbAO in their analyses of haemoglobin , then it is likely that their child will be born with thalassaemia. However, if one of the parents has abnormal HbAO, then it is unlikely that their children will have thalassaemia.
TWIN conducted thalassaemia screening test for its beneficiaries in cooperation with Rotary Club of Calcutta Sun City (needs something like ‘on an annual basis or few times every year).
Awareness Program on Healthcare include
Reproductive and Sexual Health
Menstrual Hygiene & Use of
Sanitary Napkins
Family Planning
Nutrition
Maternal and Chiid Health
Safe Motherhood
Adolescent Health & Education
HIV/AIDS
Hygiene & Sanitation
Trafficking
Awareness Program on Healthcare include
Reproductive and Sexual Health
Menstrual Hygiene & Use of
Sanitary Napkins
Family Planning
Nutrition
Maternal and Chiid Health
Safe Motherhood
Adolescent Health & Education
HIV/AIDS
Hygiene & Sanitation
Trafficking
Infotainment Sessions for Women Beneficiaries of Tollygunge Project
A series of twelve Infotainment Sessions were arranged for eighteen selected women beneficiaries of our Tollygunge Project, in WIN House during July and August The sessions were organised and introduced by two mental health counsellors, Ms Suchi Sen and Ms Devleena Chakraborty. The idea was to introduce these beneficiaries to some important socio-economic-health issues and help them share, express and voice their views about these topics, thereby giving them the confidence for self-expression and self-decision. The sessions were held weekly, each for one and half hours. The topics covered were the following:
Session 2 – Guided Group Discussion on Financial Management and Investment Management
Session 3 – Guided Group Discussion on Child Psychology Management (0-6 years)
Session 4 – Guided Group Discussion on Child Psychology Management (6-12 years)
Session 5 – Guided Group Discussion on Gut Health & Nutrition as key to well-being
Session 6 – Optimal Use of Smart Mobile Phones as Computers
Session 7 – Optimal Use of Smart Mobile Phones as Computers – continued
Session 8 – Guided Group Discussion on Menstrual Health & Hygiene
Session 9 – Guided Group Discussion on Perimenopause & Menopause
Session 10 – Guided Group Discussion on Necessity to Invest Time in Developing Support Group of Friends & Family
Session 11 – Guided Group Discussion on Self-Care & Self-Love for Overall Well-being
Session 12 – Guided Group Discussion on Rights & Help Out
A Major Step Towards Quality Education in English Language For Our Student Beneficiaries
We Can Resources is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing quality education to the underprivileged. Recently it joined hands with Tollygunge Women In Need to help the Primary student beneficiaries of our Tollygunge Project and Dhobiatala Project, studying in Classes IV, V and VI, bridge the gap between their actual performance and expected performance in English language. In this activity, WeCan Resources also actively involved the teachers who taught these students. Initially the WeCan Resources professionals interacted with the student beneficiaries to understand the gaps in their learning of English language. Later, two separate sets of Learning Camps were planned to be held for these students in the presence of their English teachers, eight in number.
Initially, an Orientation Program for these eight teachers (Kamal Chatterjee, Soma Sen, Taposhi Roy and Jasmine Khatun from Tollygunge Project; Lipika Banerjee, Sandhya Kundu, Rina Das and Sitara Khatun from Dhobiatala Project) was held in WIN House on December 9, 2024. The teachers were introduced to English teaching skills through fun and games scientifically, through songs, group work and creative activities, teaching the children phonetics for improving vocabulary and spelling skills, encouraging them to individual storytelling and bonding with books. Later the student beneficiaries of Tollygunge Project attended Learning Camps on December 18, 19, 20, 2024 while those of Dhobiatala Project attended theirs in January 2025 along with their English teachers using these English teaching skills. The experience was indeed novel for both the teachers and the taught. Planning of a similar exercise for teaching Mathematics to these students is underway.
The Journey Ahead:
TWIN has travelled a long way in its journey rendering benevolent services to underprivileged communities. It takes satisfaction from the fact that over the years, children under its care have completed their education and have become responsible citizens of this country. TWIN is also encouraged by the fact that the demand for its welfare services remains high and TWIN is determined to continue with its activities.
However, the availability of adequate financial support for running the TWIN activities remains challenging and TWIN needs your support to remain focused on its mission. Resolute with the Will to WIN , TWIN is determined to continue with its services for the underprivileged communities for years to come. To continue and build on the last three decades of service Tollygunge Women In Need is soliciting donations and contributions from individuals and corporate bodies to support benevolent services for its targeted under-privileged communities in and around Kolkata.
Donations may be in the form of
- Sponsoring children
- One-time payment of a sum of money and
- Payment by corporate bodies through their CSR scheme.
As a Sponsor you can help more children and women to better their lives and removes the shackles of generational poverty and deprivation.
Sponsorship helps to build strong communities as self-sufficient healthy educated children are the key community members (the nurses, the entrepreneurs, the teachers, etc.) and empowered women are the key instrument to uplift the family, society and further community. When you sponsor a child or donate for the welfare of a woman you will help in transforming their lives. You will also learn much about your part in the process of sustainable development.
When you become a child sponsor, you will receive a yearly progress report of the child with photos to be part of the journey of their development and growing up with your support. You will be able to keep in touch with your child through regular updates, letters and even personal visits.
Tollygunge women In Need is serving the underprivileged without regard to religion, cast or gender. The donors can get in touch with the folowing personnel for further information:
Mr A K Basu – (M) : 91 9231545868
Secretary
Mrs Irene Sarkar – (M): 91 8902231706
Assistant Secretary
Targeted communities
We focus on three categories:
- Slum children and their parents
- Children engaged in child labour and their parents
- Commercial sex workers and their children
TWIN concentrates its development activities in 3 localities:
Slums in Tollygunge
TWIN projects cover 6 slums in Tollygunge Biswas Para, Hogla Para, Jhoro Basti, Masjid Para, Modartala and Mollahati. Under Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Ward Nos. 93 894, of 2500 families. The number of families actively accessed by TWIN is about 600. The project which started in 1995 has 199 children and 294 women actively engaged in the project.
Slums in Dhobiatala
Dhobiatala is situated in New Tangra in KMC Ward No. 58. This area is a recycling ground of hazardous wastes Children and women are engaged in battery breaking, sorting metal, rubber & plastic wastes as well as reclaiming lubricant & oil from wastes. The target group is child workers engaged in hazardous recycling work and their parents. 56 children and their parents take part in the programs.
Red-light areas in Diamond Harbour
In the District of South 24 Parganas under Diamond Harbour Municipal Ward Nos. 9 & 10 we work with the target group of commercial sex workers and their children. In 1998, TWIN started a trial project in the red-light area, with a group of 50 sex-workers and 70 of their children. At present, there are 137 children and 146 women in the projects
Basic characteristics of the targeted communities:
- Overcrowded & unhygienic settlements. People are deprived of civic amenities that they are supposed to receive from local authorities.
- Inadequate access to safe water, sanitation and electricity.
- People are mostly neglected and underprivileged. They are not protected with appropriate social security schemes.
- Constant fear of eviction.
- People are mostly unorganized and have no time for collective development action because of their di livelihood struggles.
- Domestic violence concerns a lot of women and children.
- Most of the men folk are addicted to alcohol /drug and are not at all concerned about their families.
- Increasing number of unemployed youth and out of school children/adolescents having no definite plan their future.
- High risks of trafficking especially of children and adolescents.
- Mainutrition