CHRD

Some of the areas of research in CHRD are reproductive health, HIV, leprosy and tuberculosis. The researchers at CHRD have training and expertise in different disciplines like medical anthropology, health and social sciences, public health and epidemiology. Some of the senior researchers in CHRD have been involved in operations and sociological research in TB for almost two decades, including studies on the public, private and the NGO sectors, and gender and behavioural issues related to access to TB care. One of its senior researchers has served a three-year term as a member of the WHO-Geneva’s Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for TB and as temporary advisor for the WHO-Geneva’s PPM Subgroup meetings for two years. The group was invited by the Central TB Division and WHOIndia to write the section on “Special Attention to Marginalized Groups with Social Issues and Tribal Action Plan” for the Project Implementation Plan for the World Bank-funded RNTCP (2006- 2011). One of the senior researchers has been a consultant to AC Nielsen ORG MARG and has contributed to the Tribal Action Plan for the NACP III. CHRD has also provided consultancy to a WHO-India supported study on HIV management practices in the private sector in two States in India conducted by AC Nielsen ORG MARG in 2007. In April 2009, MAAS was co-opted as the 12th member of the NGO TB Consortium (NTC). The NTC led by World Vision, India, is one of the Principal Recipients of GFATM-Round 9 grants for Tuberculosis, along with the Central TB Division and the Indian Coalition against TB (ICAT) led by the Union. The purpose of co-opting MAAS and the responsibility given to MAAS in the NTC is to initiate and explore operational research areas and operational research opportunities with the NTC member organizations. After the recent transformation of NGO TB Consortium into the NGO Health Consortium (NHC) as well, MAAS continue its work and association as one of the key members of the NHC. Societies Registration No: MAH/1122/Pune/1976 * Public Trust Registration No.: F-921/1976 * FCRA No. : 83930125 * Exemption under section 80G of I. T. Act 1961 Page 5 CHRD was a partner of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) in the five-year UK Department for International Development (DFID)-supported TARGETS (Team for Applied Research Generating Effective Tools and Strategies for Communicable Disease Control) programme (2005-2011) funded by the DFID-UK. The studies under this programme broadly aimed to identify and study the gaps between policy and practice, using a mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Since the initiation of this programme, CHRD has been able to establish itself as a unit committed to working on policy and programme at local, regional, national and international levels. The outputs from this programme have been in the form of research reports and publications, papers in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at national and international conferences and invitations to research and policy meetings, both at the national and international levels.