Month: July 2024

Enhancing MIYCN: A 5-Day Intensive Breastfeeding Workshop in Himmatnagar

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A 5 day District Level Workshop on Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) with special emphasis on Breast Feeding techniques was organized for sensitizing and training the Health and ICDS-WCD officials in collaboration by the technical support from Project Vruddhi – an initiative by Action Against Hunger at Star City, Himmatnagar from May 28 to June 1, 2024. 

The workshop was attended by 50 identified master trainers from the HFWD and ICDS-WCD. The workshop was complimented by the presence of members on the dais namely Shri Harshad M. Vora IAS – District Development Officer (DDO) Sabarkantha, Dr. B. H. Patel – Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Sabarkantha, Dr. Raj B. Sutariya – Chief District Health Officer (CDHO)  Sabarkantha, Dr. K. S. Charan, In-charge Programme Officer (PO)-ICDS & Additional District Health Officer (ADHO) – Sabarkantha, Dr.Jayesh Katira, Regional Deputy Director (RDD) – Gandhinagar, Dr,Rajesh Gopal, Liasoning Officer – Sabarkantha & Director Gujarat State AIDS Control Society (GSACS), Dr. A.I.Malik, District Quality Assurance Medical Officer (DQAMO), and Dr.Pravin Damor, Epidemic Medical Officer(EMO) .  Dr. Rupal Dalal – Director – Maternal and Child Health (SMDT), Ms. Deepali Kedarnath Fargade – Manager CSR – Health and Nutrition – Tilaknagar Industries Ltd., Shital Mohan Hiwale – Project Director – Shrimati Malati Dahanukar Trust facilitated the training. 

The workshop began with the representation of NFHS data and evidences gathered from the field followed by discussions on other MIYCN topics. A special session on effective Breast-feeding techniques was addressed by Dr. Rupal Dalal. A session on importance of weight gain with breastfeeding, Latching and feeding positions for effective breast-feeding, manual expression of breast milk and its storage was also done. During the workshop, reasons for ineffective breastfeeding due to nipple and breast conditions was also discussed along with the importance of skin-to-skin contact after C-section, Kangaroo Mother Care(KMC), making of KMC bag and basics of newborn care. Later during the workshop, a discussion on the importance of first 1000 days, complimentary feeding, various types of essential nutrients and demonstration of protein-rich recipes were done. A special visit was done to GMERS Himmatnagar where all the participants along with the facilitators visited all  mothers of new born babies were educated for breast feeding positions and techniques, that helped them to achieve effective breastfeeding of the newborns.   

A pre-test and a post-test was conducted for all participants to ensure that effective MIYCN Training was imparted.  

 



Supporting Mothers: Bansi Offers Fish at 50% Discount to Pregnant and Lactating Women

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In the heart of Dharni Block, Maharashtra, Bansi Sawalkar’s (name changed) journey with pisciculture not only transformed her family’s livelihood but also became a beacon of community support. For six years, Action Against Hunger has been dedicated to uplifting 39 villages, focusing on nutrition, health, food security, and education. In February 2023, they introduced a Fish Farming Project in collaboration with Jaljeevika, aiming to bolster Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) in the region.

Bansi, a registered beneficiary immersed in maternal and child nutrition education, caught the attention of the ACF field team with her 20×20 meter farm pond. Initially hesitant due to childcare duties, Bansi entrusted her husband and father-in-law to attend training at the Titamba Aqua school. Equipped with knowledge of pond preparation, fish species, and management techniques, they returned to kickstart the project.

The journey wasn’t without challenges. After meticulous pond cleaning and embankment leveling, Bansi and her family embraced integrated farming, planting papayas, lemons, custard apples, guavas, and vegetables like drumsticks around the pond. Their dedication saw the pond stocked with fish by September, though heavy rains later caused losses, testing their resilience.

With support from Action Against Hunger, Bansi rebounded in March 2024 by releasing 200 Pangasius fish hatchlings. Diligently adhering to water quality checks and integrating pond water for crop irrigation, she optimized their agricultural yield. By June 2024, their efforts bore fruit—literally and figuratively—as the fish grew to 400-500 grams, ready for market.

Bansi demonstrated her entrepreneurial spirit by initiating fish sales in Salai and nearby villages at Rs 200 per kg. Showing her community-focused approach, she provided a 50% discount to 8 pregnant and lactating women, creating a supportive network.

For Bansi Sawalkar (name changed) and her family, the income from fish farming has not only complemented their farming but has also brought a sense of fulfillment and stability. Their journey underscores how empowerment and perseverance can ripple through communities, igniting hope and prosperity where it’s needed most.