• Provision of preventive measures to cover a target population of about 2 million slum-dwellers throughout KMA

• Use of local HHWs working at the slum level to promote hygiene

• Maximum cost efficiency by utilizing the existing resources

• Community participation by engaging local people in planning, implementation and monitoring of the health programmes, etc.

The project aimed at establishment of more Health Administrative Units (HAU), outpatient clinics, procurement of ambulances, etc.

Kolkata Urban Development Programme - III (CUDP-III) & Its Health Parameters

It was realized during implementation of the Kolkata Urban Development Programme - II, that the urban poor had little access to the available health facilities. Slum-dwellers were vulnerable to various ailments owing to neglect of personal hygiene. A sample survey, conducted in 1983 to assess the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of the beneficiaries towards health infrastructure created under CUDP - II, indicated that the project failed to obtain proper community response due to inadequate domicilliary contacts.

The CUDP-III adopted a slightly modified strategy to provide health delivery services at the doorsteps of the beneficiaries through a cadre of community based Honorary Health Workers (HHWs). The objectives of the CUDP-III health programme included :

• Expansion of the preventive oriented activities developed so far to cover a target population of about 2 million slum-dwellers throughout Kolkata Metropolitan Area;

• Use of local, part-time Honorary Health Workers (HHWs) working at the slum level to promote and teach proper health hygiene techniques;

• Maximum cost efficiency by utilizing the existing resources, e.g., buildings, equipment and personnel;

• Community participation by utilizing the local people in planning, implementation and monitoring of the health programme through establishment of popular committees at each level of health care system.