Campaign Story
About the project
The Amirgarh Block of Banaskantha district in Gujarat has a tribal population of 9.11%. Malnutrition is widespread among the children and adolescents belonging to this tribal community. Also, 79% of children aged 6-59 months are anemic. The district faces inadequate facilities and infrastructure in anganwadi and government health centers, hindering effective health and nutrition services. The community lacks knowledge about child care, nutritious food practices, and the importance of nutrition for pregnant and lactating women. These gaps contribute to significant health and malnutrition issues for children, adolescents, and women in the area.
Making a difference
CRY America’s project in Banaskantha works towards facilitating health care access and nutrition enrichment of the children and women living in the 10 villages of the Amirgarh block. It aims to form mothers’ collectives and build their capacity on health and nutrition issues. Key activities include identifying pregnant and lactating women and ensuring Ante Natal Care and Post Natal Care. Another focus area is monitoring immunizations of children and referring severely underweight children to Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers (NRC). Moreover, the project also works toward collaborating with the health departments to improve service facilities and forming adolescent collectives to raise awareness about anemia and nutrition.
The way forward
● Data to be collected from 800 households to assess the health and nutrition of children and women.
● Ensure linkage of women, adolescents, and children aged 0- 6 years with the anganwadi and government health centers.
● Mother’s collectives are to be formed to sensitize the community on institutional delivery, malnutrition, and anemia.
● Tracking of pregnant women to ensure all deliveries happen at institutions.
● Monitor pregnant and lactating women for Ante Natal and Post Natal Care.
● Ensure children aged 0-1 receive complete immunizations
● Facilitate regular growth monitoring of children in 0-5 years and ensure referral of Severely Underweight (SUW) children to NRC (Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers)
● Collaboration with Women and Child Development and Health departments to enhance health and nutrition services
Project Impact
151
children transition to 1st grade
250
children enrolled for primary education
59
children enrolled for secondary education
210
children attended bridge classes
21
School Management Committee (SMC) members received training on school development plans
241
adolescent collectives members sensitized on education issues
Current Year’s Approved Grant (April to Dec 2024) $8943
Last Year’s Grant Disbursed (Jan to Dec, 2023) – $297,425
