Aarohi Arogya Kendra (AAK)

Aarohi is a not-for-profit grassroots organization based in Satoli, offering integrated rural development services in the central Himalayan region of Uttarakhand since 1992. Our areas of work cover Health Care, Education, Livelihoods, Energy, and Forest Management.

Aarohi’s health programme focuses on providing equitable, affordable, and quality primary healthcare across the remote mountain communities of Uttarakhand. The initiative operates through a tiered system comprising the Aarohi Arogya Kendra (AAK) cottage hospital, the nurse-led AMRIT Clinic, and a network of Health Resource Centers (HRC). These facilities offer comprehensive Primary Healthcare services for rural populations in Nainital, Almora, Champawat and Bageshwar districts. To reach the most isolated hamlets, a Mobile Medical Unit (MMU)—equipped with unique portable ultrasound technology and an advanced pathology laboratory—provides monthly diagnostic and clinical outreach. Community-level interventions are driven by Frontline Health Workers, who conduct thousands of home visits for home based care and health surveillance. The programme also prioritizes the capacity building of frontline workers through robust monthly trainings, annual residential workshops and partnerships with various academic institutions. Recently, the interventional activities has expanded into the Bageshwar district, integrating health services with education, local livelihoods and natural resource management.

Aarohi Arogya Kendra (AAK)

Located in the village of Satoli within the Ramgarh block of Nainital, the Aarohi Arogya Kendra (AAK) is a comprehensive rural health facility that has evolved from a humble cottage hospital into a vital hub for primary and secondary healthcare services. It currently serves a population of approximately 30,000 people across 50 neighboring villages.

Services Available at Aarohi Arogya Kendra

The facility operates on the principles of accessibility, affordability and quality, providing a wide range of medical services:

• Emergency Services: Provides 24/7 emergency care, including management of acute cases during odd hours.
• Outpatient and Inpatient Care: Offers routine medical consultations and indoor admissions for various ailments.
• Specialized Clinical Management: Includes treatment for non-communicable diseases such as Hypertension, COPD, Diabetes and palliative care.
• Surgical Care: Conducts need-based specialist and elective surgical camps once in a quarter. Common procedures include Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies, herniotomies, urology issues, reconstructive surgeries.
• Dental Care: Provides comprehensive dental services, including treatment for common dental issues and procedures guided by dental X-rays and RVG.
• Diagnostic Facilities: Equipped with advanced diagnostic tools including Ultrasound, RvG, X-ray, ECG, and laboratory services.
• Minor Procedures: Services include suturing for cuts and wounds, foreign particle removals, abscess drainage, etc.
• Preventive Care: Active management of animal bites (dog, monkey, and cat) with a regular supply of anti-rabies vaccines.
• Home Visits: Provides Home based care for any medical emergencies, counselling and Nutrition support.

Mobile Medical Unit (MMU):

Aarohi’s Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) intervention is designed to overcome the geographical and financial barriers that prevent remote mountain communities in Uttarakhand from accessing healthcare. By bringing diagnostic and clinical services directly to the doorsteps of high-altitude villages, the MMU serves as a lifeline for those who are often “last-mile” in terms of service delivery.

Core Services of the MMU

The MMU is essentially a “hospital on wheels,” staffed by a dedicated team typically including a radiologist, medical officers, nurses, health workers, a lab technician, and a pharmacist.

• Primary Consultations: Provides on-site diagnosis and treatment for common acute and chronic ailments.
• Diagnostic Testing: The unit is equipped with a point-of-care ultrasound to screen patients for essential surgical needs and neonatal growth monitoring. MMU also has a point-of-care laboratory to conduct essential blood and urine tests immediately.
• Medicine Distribution: Features an onboard pharmacy that dispenses free or highly subsidized quality medicines to patients.
• Maternal and Child Health: Offers antenatal and postnatal check-ups, as well as pediatric screenings to monitor growth and development.
• Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Screening: Regular monitoring for conditions like hypertension and diabetes, which are increasingly prevalent in rural areas.
• Health Education: Conducts community awareness sessions on hygiene, nutrition, and seasonal disease prevention during village visits.

Public sentiment regarding the MMU intervention highlights its role in reducing “out-of-pocket” expenses and saving lives in difficult terrain.

Amrit Clinic Suni:

The Nurse led Primary healthcare clinic serves as a vital healthcare facility for the remote villages of the Okhalkhanda block, ensuring that high-altitude communities have access to quality medical care without the need for arduous travel.

Available Services

• Emergency Services: Provides 24/7 emergency care, including management of acute cases and deliveries during odd hours.
• Outpatient and Inpatient Care: Offers routine medical consultations and indoor admissions for various ailments.
• Specialized Clinical Management: Includes treatment for non-communicable diseases such as Hypertension, COPD, and Diabetes, as well as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) and palliative care.
• On-site Laboratory: A diagnostic facility providing essential tests such as blood sugar, hemoglobin, and urine analysis.
• Pharmacy: Access to a reliable supply of essential medicines at affordable rates.
• Respectful Maternal & Child Care: Focus on quality antenatal check-ups, counselling’s, conducting normal deliveries and monitoring the health of infants and children.
• Chronic Disease Monitoring: Regular screening and management for patients with hypertension and diabetes at community level.
• Referral Support: Acting as a bridge to the Aarohi Arogya Kendra in Satoli for patients requiring advanced care or surgery. The facility also has an ambulance to facilitate emergency referrals to Haldwani.
• Home Visits: Provides Home based care for any medical emergencies, counselling and Nutrition support.

Community Health Programme:

Aarohi’s community health programme is a collaborative, proactive ecosystem designed to move healthcare beyond the walls of a hospital and into the places where people live, work, and play. Instead of just treating a disease once it appears, these programmes look at the structural dynamics of a community to address the root causes of illness—such as nutrition, environment, and social equity. The programme addresses the unique challenges of the mountain terrain—such as scattered settlements and limited access to information—by bringing quality healthcare directly to the doorsteps of rural communities.

The programme has evolved from a focus on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) into a Comprehensive Primary Health Care initiative. It operates through a multi-tiered system including the Aarohi Arogya Kendra (AAK), Mobile Medical Units (MMU), Amrit Clinics and customized Health Resource Centers.

Core Operational Pillars.

• Health Resource Centers (HRC/WHRC): These facilities serve as local hubs for preventive and promotive care, fostering a direct, enduring relationship between providers and the community.
• Capacity Building: Aarohi actively trains frontline workers, including ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, and Traditional Birth Attendants, to ensure sustainable health outcomes.

For more information, visit: http://www.aarohi.org/