VHAG was initially established in November 2001 as the Goa Health Collective (GHC). The GHC owes its birth to a project of Sangath, a Goan NGO that has been engaged in clinical services and research on child and family mental health issues in Goa. The project was launched in January 1999 following a request by the Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) to document the public health scenario of Goa. In keeping with the earlier VHAI publications, “The State of India’s Health”, the new project was titled “The State of Goa’s Health”. The project was coordinated by Dr. Vikram Patel and Ms. Rinea Dourado.

REPORT ON GOA’S HEALTH:

“The State of Goa’s Health”. The project was coordinated by Dr.Vikram Patel and Ms. Rinea Dourado.

The objective of the state of Goa’s Health project was to prepare a report on public health issues in Goa and to host a meeting of stakeholders in healthcare in Goa to consider the implications of the report and to facilitate the formation of a local public health action group. A range of topics pertaining to the wider public health issues in Goa were identified, ranging from HIV/AIDS and malaria to women and child health, from public and private health financing to medical ethics and training. Experts in Goa were invited to contribute on 

various topics and these contributions formed the draft of State of Goa’s Health report. The report was released in February 2000 at a conference which involved participation by a cross-section of stakeholders of health in Goa.

GENESIS:

With the release of the State of Goa’s Health Report, the Sangath project was completed. At a meeting to discuss future steps, one of the key recommendations was the need for a public health advocacy and monitoring group in Goa. In keeping with this recommendation, it was unanimously agreed to set up a new NGO, which could implement the recommendations of the Report. Thus, the Goa Health Collective was born with an Executive Board of seven persons who reflected the inter-sectoral and multi-disciplinary nature of public health, with the objective of advocating for public health issues affecting the people of Goa. Acknowledging the exemplary work done by the GHC, the Voluntary Health Association of India, within a span of just 2 years accorded state membership status to GHC and hence was then termed as the Voluntary Health Association of Goa  (VHAG) in November 2003.  This was a significant achievement for a young organization.