Psychological Benefits of Using a Network of LHWs

Apart from other benefits Jaroka Telehealth care Project also imparts psychological benefits and mental relief to its patients.

As Jaroka Project provides medical aid at door step in the form of Lady Health Workers which gives the patient flexibility of receiving healthcare at home . It is a source of mental relief for the patient which results into rapid recovery due to enhanced social support from family members, friends, relatives and colleagues.

It provides a more frequent and consistent contact between patients of remote areas and healthcare providers which results in increased patient satisfaction and early diagnoses and prevention from diseases.

Patient care at home has several advantages such as proper care, cleanliness and attention from family members, which is difficult to get in government hospitals, which are flooded with patients and hence degraded in service.

Care at home also builds up an increased will in the patient to get well soon. It also helps patient's family members to avoid the conflicts between family and work responsibilities. It also helps a patient to avoid a long journey travel and high charges of hospital beds and other associated expenses, thereby relieving the patient's mind from the worries of total cost and stay, away from home, which often helps the patient towards faster recovery.

Home care , monitored by LHWs also helps elderly and physically challenged patients to receive health care without visiting the clinic.

Through auto send SMS , patients are also reminded about their medicine dosages, appointments and camps being held in the area, making the system more patient friendly.

Since LHWs are females from local community , women can discuss their problems openly, and at an initial stage which can save them from costly complications and hospitalization at a later stage. Being ladies, these LHWs can easily comprehend the problems faced by the women. LHWs also suitable practitioners in rural Mardan, due to the preference of local women to be treated by female practitioners.

Being from the local community also gives LHWs the advantage of gaining the community trust easily, and convincing them effectively and without any language barrier, which is also a plus point from patient's point of view as , he/she does not have to put extra efforts in defining the problem to LHW. In this way , Jaroka helps patients of Mardan, while keeping their cultural norms intact.

Jaroka project, not only empowers women but it actually empowers patients, helping them to manage their disease for long term health. It also helps them in management of chronic diseases like asthma, diabetes etc, and creates awareness in local community.