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Health Action by People was founded in 1992 and is a registered not for profit organization under the registrar of Charitable Societies, Government of Kerala. HAP is recognized as ‘Scientific and industrial research organization’ (SIERO) by the Government of India. Dr C R Soman was the founder chairman. Dr V Raman Kutty is the present chairman and Dr Vijayakumar, the secretary. An executive committee elected annually guides the chairman in its functioning.

ACTIVITIES

Research remains the core activity of HAP. At present HAP is involved in various research projects both independent and in association with world-renowned academic institutions. Population registry of life style diseases( PROLIFE), a prospective cohort study involving the long time follow up of 1, 60,000 subjects in rural Kerala undertaken by HAP. PURE is a multinational, multi centered study guided and coordinated by McMaster University, Canada. HAP is one of the study partners in India and has already recruited over 4700 subjects, against the target of 5000. INDADE (Indo-Danish Collaboration on Diabetes Epidemiology) that HAP has fostered a partnership with the University of ODENSE and Novo Nordisk to undertake pioneering studies on epidemiology of diabetes, with special emphasis on social and economic costs of diabetes mellitus.

Study on the incidence of injuries in a rural population: Undertaken with department of clinical epidemiology and biostatistics, McMaster University.

Pro Health Diagnostic facilities:  HAP’s research laboratories at Trivandrum and Varkala are open to the public for getting their clinical tests done at substantially lower cost than commercial Clinical Labs. The laboratory is now supervised by Dr Aleyamma Joseph MD, wife of our founder Dr CR Soman. HAP also conducts Specialty Clinics in diabetes, endocrinology and general medicine for the public.

Other Activities

PSBH:

Problem Solving for Better Health: Problem Solving for Better Health (PSBH) is a global movement in over thirty countries. This movement was created by Dreyfus health foundation, USA and is coordinated in India by Health Action by People (HAP). The programme aims at sensitizing medical students on community health. 64 medical colleges of India are now members of the PSBH fraternity.

Saantwanam:

Saantwanam is a joint venture of HAP and the Government of Kerala. Educated girls belonging to economically backward households are provided training and support to carry out home-based health screening programme. More than 300,000 people have been screened so far and 200 caregivers placed in various parts of Kerala.

Consultancy services: HAP also provides short-term consultancy services for various organizations;

Other activities

Tobacco control: HAP has been involved in tobacco control since its inception. Activities include building a coalition of schools against tobacco usage, HAP also initiated a school level awareness programme in which nearly 100,000 school children signed a memorandum against tobacco usage, and this memorandum was handed over to the prime minister of India.

HAP’s involvement with the medical profession also takes the form of Round Table Conferences on topical themes. Some topics recently covered are immunization, Leptospirosis and healthy living.

HAP also conducts research clinics, which include methodology workshops and scientific assistance to young researchers.

HAP also undertakes campaigns for educating the public about various health issues. HAP conveys its messages through posters, books and television spots.