CHETNA* meaning “awareness” in several Indian languages and an acronym for Centre for Health, Education, Training and Nutrition Awareness, is a non-government support organization based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. CHETNA addresses issues of women’s health and development in difference stages of their lives from a gender equity perspective. CHETNA supports Government and Non-Government Organisation (GO and NGOs) through building the capacities of health practioners, educators and programme coordinators enabling them to implement their programmes from a holistic and gender perspective and advocates for people centred policies. Our core activities are capacity building forging partnership and advocacy at local, regional and international levels. CHETNA also develops and disseminates need based gender sensitive behavior change communication material. In 2004, CHETNA was identified as a Regional Resource Centre (RRC) for Gujarat State and the Union Territories of Daman, Diu and Dadra Nagar Haveli by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India (GoI) and Department of Health and Family Welfare (DoHFW), Government of Gujarat (GoG) to provide technical assistance to NGOs to strengthen the implementation of Reproductive and Child Health Programme. In 2014, DoHFW, GoG has recognized CHETNA as a NGO Support Organisation to strengthen the implementation of National health Mission. In August 2014 to 31 March 2016 CHETNA was identified as State Training and Resource Centre (STRC) for Gujarat, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Have to support NGOs in implementing targeted interventions programme related to HIV/AIDS. CHETNA Outreach has been initiated as an effort to take forward the learning and experiences of 35 years of working in the area of health and Nutrition. This aims to extend the reach of CHETNA’s activities to diverse geographical areas at the state, national and international levels by systematic facilitation, co-creation and mainstreaming of effective evidence based models, promising practices and effective strategies towards holistic gender-sensitive approaches in health, nutrition and education through collective advocacy.
*CHETNA means consciousness in several languages and dialects in India. CHETNA its work in 1980 as an activity of the Nehru Foundation for Development which is registered under the Bombay Public Trust Act. 1950.
