SEARCH, Gadchiroli

SEARCH provides healthcare to the rural and tribal people in Gadchiroli district, with a vision of Aarogya Swaraj: "People’s Health in People’s Hands, by empowering individuals and communities to take charge of their own health, and thereby, help them achieve freedom from disease as well as dependence." Gadchiroli is one of the most impoverished districts in India with tribals constituting 30% of its population. The poverty, illiteracy and remoteness add to the huge healthcare challenges in this region. Moved by the dire circumstances, visionaries Dr. Rani and Dr. Abhay Bang set up SEARCH in 1986, to live among these people and serve them. SEARCH has now been working among the rural and tribal poor and marginalised for over 37 years. We work with the rural and tribal communities to identify their health needs and develop interventions models that are both sustainable and community empowering. SEARCH, today, is recognised as a global leader amongst public health institutions. Our community-based participatory approach has made pathbreaking contributions in the public health problems of not just Gadchiroli, but also globally.