Dungarpur district in southern Rajasthan is predominantly rural, with a tribal population of 54%. The region faces stark health challenges: more than half of children under five are malnourished, and 73.6% of rural women are anaemic. Communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, diarrhoea, malaria, and pneumonia are common. While most childbirths take place in health facilities, newborn and infant mortality rates remain high.

In 2015, BHS partnered with the Government of Rajasthan to manage the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Nithauwa through a public–private partnership. With a dedicated team at the PHC and sub-centres, focused skill-building, collaborative work culture, improved infrastructure, and a commitment to dignity in care, we delivered comprehensive, round-the-clock healthcare to approximately 25,000 people in some of the most underserved areas.

Over the years, this work transformed health outcomes in the region. Every child in our catchment area was fully immunised. Institutional deliveries rose by 68%, and women began registering for antenatal care earlier than ever before. We pioneered practices like Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) for low-birth-weight babies, implemented triage systems for emergencies, and provided specialized treatment for severely malnourished children. The PHC became a bustling centre of care, often treating 70–100 outpatients a day, managing multiple deliveries, and responding to emergencies with skill and compassion.

 In June 2024, following the government’s decision to upgrade the PHC to a Community Health Centre (CHC) and other evolving challenges, BHS handed operations back to the state, concluding a transformative chapter in community healthcare delivery.