Brief about VHAG

Voluntary Health Association of Goa (VHAG) is a non-profit non-government organization committed to the improvement of people’s health in the state of Goa by conducting research to identify problem areas in health, implementing field interventions, advocacy, policy formulation and recommendations to the government and monitoring the implementation of laws related to public health through active involvement and co-ordination with the public, other NGOs and government. VHAG is an important state unit of the Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI).

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.

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.

The head office of  Voluntary Health Association of Goa (VHAG) is located at St. Inez, Panjim. And Our project office is located at Sanguem, South Goa

It is said that “When a collection of brilliant minds, hearts and talents come together expect a masterpiece”. It is this collection of vastly experienced board members that have come together to make “health a reality” to the people of Goa. We have representatives from the fields of medicine, pharmacy, social Field, the civil society and so on; whose expertise is what gives the organization its unique identity.

There’s is no substitute for hard work. It is this hard work and motivation invested by our staff members that helps us take our projects forward through coordination, planned action, goals and targets. Also their enthusiasm to learn new things has rewarded the organization in its own way.