<b>Voluntary Health Association of Meghalaya (VHAM)</b><br><br>
VHAM implemented a Health and Development Programme in Pammanik Village, Jaintia Hills with support from IIMK, Belgium.Under this project, a lot of public health issues were addressed. Several Self Help Groups were formed and provided with trainings on SHG management, formulation of action plan, basics of budgeting their activities. One of their SHGs had the opportunity to attend the Indian International Trade Fair in November, 2005. The beneficiaries were trained in constructing a cost effective latrine through technology awareness camps on how to build the latrines etc. The raw materials like the commode, pipes, sand, cement etc were provided by the project whereas the labour and other materials like the roof, covering etc were contributed by the villagers themselves. The two schools were also supported with partitions and cemented floors. The Project got full support of the Government Health Sub-Centre in its health activities and hence the Project staff collaborated the Government in Pulse Polio, Family Awareness Campaign and Malaria Programmes. The advocacy workshop of all the village elders, particularly the Executive Committee members was also conducted.<br><br>VHAM implemented a programme on strengthening collective efforts in North East India with support from EED Germany through NGO support scheme c/o CSD Imphal. The programme started in one Village called Mawtari which is located in RiBhoi District of Meghalaya. The idea is to bring communities together, to capacitate and empower them about their rights and to achieve the same. VHAM team started their interventions with health programmes including trainings and awareness and also empowered them on the issues related to their basic health and other developmental issues like their rights to clean water, roads, education and others. In January 2006 VHAM included six more villages into the programme. All the Village workers are being trained on issues of health and development and also on how to become a trainer, since one of their responsibility is to give awareness and trainings in their own Villages. The other activities in which the project is involved are promoting indigenous seeds and medicinal Plants, providing Economic Support to SHGs and the Village, helping the Villages to form food banks, conducting workshops for Community Leaders, CBOs, etc to understand Gender, Democratisation, and Globalisation, Advocacy with Community Leaders and District Authority and promoting means of livelihood that is special and familiar with the people in the Village.<br><br>VHAM implemented another project on “Empowering Communities for Primary Prevention of Drug Use and HIV/AIDS with support of G-86 Project of UNODC/AUSAID in the Jaitia Hill District. 25 master trainers were trained who will in turn train 500 volunteers in the district. Four NGO Partners were involved in conducting the trainings in order to accomplish the project activities within a stipulated time. VHAM also implemented another project on “A National Scale up of IDUs Interventions” with support of DFID, SHARAN, New Delhi and with technical support of North East India Harm Reduction Network in Jowai and Shillong.<br><br>Besides part of the various networks, forums and platforms, VHAM is an active member of various Government, National and International Agencies. VHAM office is also a DOTS Centre. Other activities of VHAM includes adolescent programme to the SOS village, hosted candlelight memorial, observed the World AIDS Day. <br><br>VHAM publication includes - Ka Shithi jongngi shaphi” a Quarterly Newsletter for Health Workers in Rural Areas, Voices of the Voiceless” a 12 Minute Documentary on the Drug use & HIV/AIDS issue in Jowai, Jaintia Hills District, “What you need to know about HIV/AIDS” Pamphlet on HIV/AIDS in English, Khasi and Garo, “Kaba ia leh pyrshah ia ka Malaria” (a booklet about Malaria in khasi), “Ka jingsumar ba kham bha ia ki khynnah ba don jingduna ne jingshitom ha ki Dkhot met” ( a Booklet on Disabled Children in khasi) and “Kumno ban sumar bha ia ki khyllung” (a Booklet on Child care in khasi).