Sample Solution

The country I have chosen for this analysis is India. Despite being the world’s second largest population with a population of 1.3 billion and one of the fastest growing economies in the world, India is still plagued by unmet health needs particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare resources are limited (Kumar et al., 2019). To address these gaps Oxfam India has been providing services in the region since 1976 working to “promote equitable and sustainable development through economic empowerment, gender equality and social justice” (Oxfam 2020).

One way that Oxfam India has been effective at improving healthcare standards is through its work in community-based health promotion which focuses on reducing preventable illness amongst vulnerable communities by increasing access to affordable medical care as well as advocating for better public policy (ibid.). This approach has enabled them to provide regular medical checkups and primary care services such as vaccinations, nutrition interventions, family planning advice and mental health support which would otherwise be unavailable or too expensive for many people living in rural areas.(Kumar A & Shukla PK 2020)

Another area where Oxfam India has had positive impact is water sanitation. It provides clean drinking water for over 2 million people per year across 6 states through its WASH programme which also teaches basic hygiene practices including handwashing techniques (Oxfam 2020). In addition it helps local governments improve their own infrastructure by supporting projects such as rainwater harvesting systems ,groundwater recharge ponds, sewage treatments plants etc. Such measures ensure safe drinking water remains available throughout drought periods while also protecting against seasonal flooding.

These efforts have resulted significant improvements both locally and nationally although there are still many challenges remaining: according to a 2017 survey only 54% of Indian households had basic sanitation facilities whereas only 58% had access to tap water within their homes(ibid.). Meanwhile less than half those surveyed reported having received any sort of healthcare from government sources indicating there may not yet be enough adequate public services available especially outside major urban centers.(Ibid.)

Overall, we can see that while Oxfam India`s aid programmes have been effective at addressing some issues related to health inequality there remains much more work needed before meaningful progress can be achieved .While the organization does support local governments when possible it ultimately relies upon international donations for most of its funding meaning long term success requires greater commitment from all levels if lasting improvements are ever going to take place .(Schreiber 2018 ).