In the month of October we trained 82 new health activists (Swasthya Sakhis) in Uttar Pradesh from Sangrampur, Unchahar, Sareni and Bhetua blocks. We also conducted six refresher training courses for 99 activists already working in the field in Salon, Jagatpur, Musafirkhana, Baldirai, Bhafiya, and Gauriganj blocks. In the month of November we plan to train new activists from Jagdishpur and Dubey blocks besides conducting six refresher training sessions for old activists.

According to our plan for 2009, we had planned to pilot test our program in a new district to see if we can replicate our work and methods outside Sultanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. The plan is on schedule. We are expanding to a new district: Jhansi. Our staff will travel to Babina, Jhansi to train new health activists from 26th to 29th November. We have also received requests from other states to start our program there. We may do this in 2010 depending on our resources and experience in Babina, Jhansi. We are currently drawing up our plans for 2010, which we will publish in our January 2010 newsletter.