Healthcare: Ensuring Better Quality of Life through Accessible Services and Awareness
Diagnostic and Referral Support
At HS Charitable Trust, we are committed to improving access to essential healthcare services for underserved urban communities. Through our regular health camps, we offer free diagnostic support including basic health screenings, blood pressure and sugar checks, and general medical assessments—often serving as the first point of contact for individuals who otherwise lack access to routine care.
Our efforts are closely aligned with the public healthcare system, particularly the Urban Health Centres supported by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). These centers provide further testing, medical treatment, and referrals to higher-level hospitals for specialized care.
Mother and Child Care
In India, especially within marginalized urban communities, maternal and child health continues to face serious challenges—such as malnutrition, lack of timely medical care, poor sanitation, and limited awareness about available healthcare services. Many women miss out on vital pre- and post-natal care, and young children are often deprived of the nutrition and immunizations needed for healthy development.
To address these critical gaps, HS Charitable Trust works actively in urban informal settlements to improve access to quality care for mothers and children. In partnership with ASHA workers, we ensure that pregnant women and new mothers receive continuous health monitoring, counselling, and linkages to government health schemes.
Mental Health
At HS Charitable Trust, we recognize that mental health is a vital part of overall well-being, especially in urban informal communities where people face daily struggles like financial hardship, insecure housing, limited healthcare access, and social exclusion. These challenges often lead to emotional stress, anxiety, and a sense of helplessness, affecting people’s ability to cope with everyday life.
The communities we serve often deal with multiple layers of stress that impact self-esteem, emotional resilience, and mental stability. Yet, mental health remains widely neglected in these areas due to stigma, lack of awareness, and limited access to mental health services.
Nutrition
In India, malnutrition continues to be a serious concern, particularly among children in marginalized communities. Issues like poor diets, limited awareness, and lack of access to nutritious food often lead to stunted growth, low immunity, and developmental delays in young children. At HS Charitable Trust, we understand that good nutrition is the foundation for healthy physical and mental development, and we’ve made it a key part of our health and early childhood initiatives.
We regularly organize awareness sessions for parents, especially mothers, on the importance of proper nutrition during pregnancy and early childhood. These sessions focus on affordable, locally available food, balanced diets, breastfeeding, and safe weaning practices.
Overview
At HS Charitable Trust, we work to make healthcare accessible and affordable for underserved communities. Our initiatives include health awareness programs, street plays, and counseling sessions to promote hygiene, nutrition, and preventive care. We focus on maternal and child health through regular check-ups, antenatal and postnatal care, and support for safe deliveries. We also organize free vaccination drives and health camps to address common illnesses, anemia, and seasonal diseases. With support from hospitals and specialists, we help low-income families access essential surgeries like eye and orthopedic treatments. Our efforts also cover adolescent health, mental wellbeing, and lifestyle diseases, aiming to build a healthier, more informed society.

Learners discovering STEM concepts
Programs

Bridging the Gap in Surgical Care
While government hospitals and health schemes exist, many people from low-income communities are still unable to access timely surgical care. Factors such as fear of surgery, lack of awareness, complicated paperwork, and the cost of taking time off work often prevent them from getting the treatment they need. As a result, small health issues grow into serious conditions, leading to medical emergencies or loss of income. Our Surgical Support Program aims to bridge this gap by offering guidance, financial support, and care coordination—ensuring that no one is denied surgery due to social or economic challenges.
About the Program
The Surgical Support Program by HS Charitable Trust is designed to close the gap between available surgical services and the people who need them most. Many from marginalized communities face both visible and hidden challenges—fear, confusion about health schemes, or the emotional stress of navigating hospitals. To tackle this, we have trained community workers, called Sathis, who guide and support patients every step of the way. Our Sathis: Provide one-on-one counselling to reduce fear and build confidence in surgical care Help patients understand and benefit from government health schemes Offer complete support—from identifying cases to referrals and post-surgery follow-ups—so the process feels less overwhelming This program focuses not just on creating awareness, but on actively helping patients move through complicated medical systems. It ensures that no one is left behind due to fear, lack of knowledge, or financial challenges.

Samagra
In many urban poor communities, access to quality healthcare remains a major challenge due to poverty, lack of awareness, and gaps in the healthcare system. These barriers are made worse by growing issues like pandemics, climate change, and frequent urban crises. The Samagra Program works to build a comprehensive urban health model that focuses on prevention, early intervention, and proper treatment—especially for women, children, and other vulnerable groups. It aims to create a healthcare ecosystem that is inclusive, community-driven, and ready to meet the changing health needs of urban populations.
About the Program
The Samagra Program, led by HS Charitable Trust in partnership with PSI and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, aimed to create a responsive, affordable, and inclusive healthcare system for urban communities. Operating through six key centers—including four Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) in Thaltej, Madhupura, New Sardar Nagar, and Madinagar, and two Community Resource Centres (CRCs) in Sabarmati and Sanjaynagar—the program worked to improve access to essential health services for the urban poor.
Samagra addressed a wide range of health needs, including maternal and child health, family planning, tuberculosis detection and care, COVID-19 prevention and vaccination, immunization, and counselling services. It went beyond just treatment by focusing on awareness, prevention, and social factors that influence health, empowering communities to take control of their well-being.
Through its integrated and people-centered approach, Samagra not only delivered impactful services but also helped build a stronger, more inclusive urban health system that continues to benefit vulnerable populations.

Reproductive and Child Healthcare Services
In many urban low-income areas, women often struggle to access timely antenatal and postnatal care, while children miss out on critical immunizations and early health checkups. Challenges like low awareness, cultural barriers, and weak outreach from public health services make it harder for mothers to make informed choices for their health and their children’s wellbeing.
About the Program
At HS Charitable Trust, in collaboration with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, we are implementing the Reproductive and Child Healthcare Project in the Vasna and Paldi wards. This initiative aims to improve access to essential healthcare services like reproductive health, antenatal and postnatal care, family planning, and child immunization for women and children in underserved communities.
To ensure deeper outreach, we engage local women health volunteers who are trained and supported to visit 200–500 households each. These dedicated volunteers provide last-mile support, conduct health awareness sessions, and guide women toward making informed health decisions. Their presence helps build trust and confidence, empowering women to independently manage their health and well-being.
Key Program Activities:
- Health awareness and empowerment sessions
- Vaccination camps for mothers and children
- Regular health checkups and blood tests

Stop The Spread & COVID Vaccination Program
During the COVID-19 pandemic, HS Charitable Trust took proactive steps to support vulnerable communities in urban and peri-urban areas, especially in densely populated slums where fear, misinformation, and limited healthcare access were major challenges. Our efforts focused on spreading accurate information, encouraging vaccinations, and ensuring access to life-saving services for underserved populations.
About the Program
The Stop the Spread & COVID-19 Vaccination Program was launched by HS Charitable Trust in collaboration with United Way Mumbai, Coca-Cola, and the Azim Premji Foundation, across Ahmedabad, Surat, and Jaipur. The program aimed to raise awareness about COVID-19, counter misinformation, and increase vaccination coverage—especially among vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities.
Working closely with government health departments, the program identified high-risk areas, tracked vaccine availability, helped people with online registration, and ensured access to hygiene kits and support services.
Using a community-based approach, vaccination centers and PHC/CHC teams partnered with local volunteers, influencers, and frontline workers to engage residents through door-to-door visits, meetings, and educational materials. The program also introduced the “STOP THE SPREAD Van”, which travelled to remote and underserved areas, providing accurate information and helping people reach nearby vaccination sites—especially those who needed extra support.

Population Coverage
Providing health education on TB, family planning, and maternal and child health.

Women Reached
Supporting women with maternal care and contraception information.
