Since 1999, the efforts are being made to develop a grass root level health system and link it up with the Government managed health service delivery system. In 49 villages, village level Women Health Workers (WHWs) and Traditional Birth Attendants – Dais (TBAs) are trained who are responsible for dealing with primary health care issues and safe deliveries respectively. Apart from this, Mahiti has been organizing Medical Health Camps including health check-ups by inviting profession health practitioners from Primary Health Centers and public charitable / private hospitals. Linkages are being made for better referrals and reaching out widely to the communities through Mahiti’s own Medical Cum Emergency Transportation Services. Till the year 2009, Mahiti has so far trained 64 WHWs and 79 TBAs in 49 villages. Mahiti is also being expanding this activity of training and capacity building of WHWs and TBAs in other villages where community health program did not reached.

Till 2008, a cadre of village level Women Health Workers (WHWs) trained and supported by the Mahiti’s health team spearheaded Mahiti’s efforts with regard to Preventive and Promotive Health in 49 coastal villages. In effect, Mahiti’s efforts at the community level required a parallel system of community health care to be created and supported. Concerns about the sustainability of such an effort led to this initiative being rolled back in 2006. An evaluation of Community Healthcare Program implemented during 2003 – 2005 was carried out to find gaps and health needs across all the areas that Mahiti worked in. The results of the program evaluation coincided with the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) being implemented in the country by the Government and also suggested further expansion of community healthcare program with an additional component of Adolescent Youth’s Health and Development.