Campaign Story
About the project
GVM is working on health and malnutrition issues in 18 villages in Assam. Awareness level in the community, sensitization towards accessing health care services including immunization, lack of services like Ante-natal care (ANC) and institutional delivery, balanced diet, hygienic practices influence the poor health and nutrition outcome indices. It was evidently surfaced that enrolment of the children is not an issue, rather a compelling issue is retention and regularity of the children in the Govt schools. Being a flood and waterlogging prone state, schools are vulnerable to physical barriers and thus parents are scared to send their children to school during the rainy season.
Making a difference
CRY America’s Project GVM is working towards providing access to free, primary healthcare in the intervention areas. The project is working at reducing the rate of child malnutrition in operational areas while increasing the enrollment rate and retention rate in schools. The key activities at the project location are home based tracking of pregnant and lactating mothers, tracking of children for education support, and engagement with children’s groups.
Action during COVID times
● COVID-19 awareness program was conducted with children groups and caregivers
● Discussion with mothers and adolescent group members on sanitization, masking and social distancing
● IEC material was developed and shared on WhatsApp for COVID-19 awareness
The way forward
● Access to free, primary health care in our intervention areas
● Reduction of Child Malnutrition in operational areas
● Making quality health services-sub-centers & PHCs available.
● RTE Act Implementation
Project Impact
618
Children immunized under 1 year age
1099
Under 5 years children covered under growth monitoring process
44
Irregular children have been regularized in 6-14 years
65
Children have been benefited from Digital Literacy center
13
Teachers have been motivated and catering to 140 children in the community
Current Year’s Approved Grant
Infant in Assam got a new life
Jerifa Begum was born in Makaldoba village of Nalbari district who weighed only 2.3 kg at the time of birth. Jerifa’s mother was also very weak during her pregnancy as the difference of period between two pregnancies was only one year. Jerifa’s father is a daily wage laborer and their family is economically distressed. After the birth the nutrition status of the baby continued deteriorating. Very soon the GVM team found her in the MAM (Moderately Acute Malnourished) category. In September 2020, when Jerifa was one year and seven months old she weighed only 7 kg, her height was 69 cm
GVM volunteer Binita Deka identified the case and discussed with Jerifa’s parents for better home based care and nutrition management. During the discussion AWW and ASHA workers supported the GVM team and also counseled the family. During the counseling process ANM advised Jerifa’s mother to refer her to any doctor in Nalbari. Binita Deka continuously visited their home and provided counseling to her mother and suggested that she intake quality nutritional food which is locally available.
Family worked on the suggestion and just after a few days when Binita Deka took the measurement again the result was quite encouraging Jerifa’s weight increased to 7.5 kg. Everyone’s collaborative effort brought Jerifa back to normal from the MAM category.
| Name | Donate Amount | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hans Foundation | $47,773 | July 29, 2022 |
