Information, Documentation and Communication

The process of effective communication governs the human action and behaviour, which are the most important pre-requisites in achieving healthy living. The role of communication in mobilising and motivating people does not act only to enhance the knowledge of the people but at the same time helps to the communicator in realising people’s needs, problems, and aspirations, which in turn facilitate the efforts towards healthy living. Communicating with people for inducing healthy life style has become mandatory for OVHA and sharing of information and knowledge are the most important characteristics. Information, Documentation and Communication division of OVHA has been striving with the aim to provide technical input and support to its member and non-member organisations of the state in different aspect of management information system. This has been cherished through production of health education material in the form of posters, charts, leaflets, graphs, handouts, brochures, slides, videocassettes, book and booklets.

Similarly, in the field of information management OVHA lays emphasis on setting up of information and documentation cell among the member organizations for qualitative management of the information system. Under this division OVHA under takes the following activities.

• Facilitate in setting up of information and documentation cell at the grassroots level.
• Organises training programme on information, documentation and communication.
• Establishes information network.
• Provides library and reference services to the readers.
• Develops News Clippings.
• Specialises in Tribal Health and Genetic Disorders.
• Acts as an information bank on Reproductive Health.

Similarly, brings out the following publications.

• Quarterly newsletter on Health “Swasthya Bichitra” .
• Better Care Series .
• Books – Oriya version of Where There Is No Doctor written by David Warner .
• Books – Where women have no Doctor.
• Apananku Chithi a quarterly newsletter for health workers ( Common Health messages ) .
• Posters, Leaflets, handouts .
• Audio and videocassettes.
• Occasional News Bulletin etc.

Exhibitions at different places also help OVHA in disseminating information related to health to general public in a large extent. Specific problems related to health and its successful management are given due importance in the exhibitions.

Study/Research

OVHA under takes study and research in different health issues to assess the magnitude and extent of the problem, which is further tabled in different meetings, workshops and seminars for successful intervention of the programme. Some of the important studies conducted by OVHA are as follows: