Our Current Projects

Project-Scaling Life

IAD is presently being funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to implement the project “Scaling Life” which is aimed at expanding integrated medicine in India through a public-private model of care. To offer free integrative treatment for filarial lymphedema under the project, IAD is working with the governments of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India.
Four regional filariasis treatment centres are established in Lucknow and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Begusarai and Patna in Bihar. The team to offer treatment at these regional centres is locally recruited after conducting interview of qualified applicants. The team is provided one-month rigorous training program at IAD- Center of Excellence for Lymphedema in Kasaragod.
Each centre aims to treat 325 Lymphatic Filariasis patients in the intensive phase (14 days admission in the wards) and three follow-ups. Patients receive free treatment and medicines for up to three follow-ups. About 1300 patients are expected to benefit from this project period IAD.
A patient education class is held for both the patients and their caregivers to familiarize them with home care practices and raise awareness about the disease. To mobilize the patients to the center, the team at these centres regularly conduct patient mobilization camps in coordination with local ASHA workers and district malaria/filaria officers. Pamphlets regarding the availability of treatments for filariasis are also distributed in the area to raise public awareness.
IAD has constituted a monitoring team comprising senior doctors for each centre. The members of the monitoring team that comprises National and International Lymphoedema experts visits the regional centres at frequent intervals to monitor the operations of the centres and guide them in managing difficult cases. IAD conducts regular online consultations, and round-the-clock CCTV monitoring to ensure the smooth running of the centres.
Patient communication is used to gather feedback from patients regularly. Patients who have successfully undergone treatment at IAD are selected as patient coordinators to ensure regular follow-ups by the patients as per the schedule and encourage them to continue home care treatment.
Procedures are on to link the treatment centres with select AYUSH wellness centres for continued treatment of patients after the third follow-up.