Anemia is a silent crisis — one that affects millions across rural India, yet often goes unnoticed. In Dharni, many women, adolescents, and young children live with the daily fatigue, weakness, and long-term health risks associated with this condition. Left unaddressed, anemia can impair growth, learning, maternal health, and overall well-being.

Recognising the urgency of this challenge, Action Against Hunger India, with the support of NAOS, has launched a targeted Anemia Project across 33 villages in Dharni block. This marks a significant expansion of our reach and a deepening of our commitment to community health.

The project specifically focuses on four key vulnerable groups:

• Newly married women, who often face health vulnerabilities due to early pregnancies and limited access to healthcare;
• Pregnant and lactating mothers, whose nutritional status directly affects both maternal and child health;
• Adolescent girls, who are at high risk of iron deficiency due to menstruation and poor dietary intake;
• Children under five, for whom anemia can hinder physical growth and cognitive development.

Our approach combines:

• Community-based screening and identification of anemia using simple diagnostic tools;
• Nutrition education and counselling to promote iron-rich diets using locally available foods;
• Distribution of iron and folic acid supplements, deworming tablets, and referrals where needed;
• Capacity building of frontline workers and community volunteers to sustain impact;
• Behaviour change communication campaigns to promote health-seeking behaviour, early diagnosis, and preventive practices.

With this initiative, we hope to shift the narrative — from silence to awareness, from fatigue to strength, and from vulnerability to resilience. We believe that good health is the foundation of every dream, and no child, girl, or mother should be left behind due to a preventable condition like anemia.

This is not just a health intervention — it’s a step towards dignity, equity, and opportunity for every individual in these villages. Together with NAOS, we are creating healthier beginnings and stronger futures.

The Health and Family Welfare Department and the Women and Child Development Department, Government of Gujarat, in collaboration with Action Against Hunger India, jointly organized a State-Level Dissemination Workshop for Project Vruddhi in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

This significant event served as a platform to bring together key stakeholders from across the state, including government officials, health practitioners, program implementers, and development partners. The workshop aimed to present and discuss the key learnings, achievements, and best practices emerging from Project Vruddhi’s implementation in Sabarkantha district.

Through a series of engaging sessions, experiential sharing, and the presentation of the Endline Evaluation Findings, the workshop created a space for honest reflection—highlighting what has worked well, what challenges remain, and how these insights can be effectively translated into evidence-based, scalable solutions for maternal and child health interventions.

Dignitaries present were :

• Shri Harshad M. Vora, IAS – District Development Officer, Sabarkantha
• Dr. Nayan Jani – Additional Director, Family Welfare, Government of Gujarat
• Dr. R. B. Sutariya – Chief District Health Officer (CDHO), Sabarkantha
• Ms. Jignasa C. Pandya – Mission Director, Poshan Abhiyaan, Gujarat

Their presence underscored the government’s commitment to improving health and nutrition outcomes and the importance of collaborative action to address systemic challenges.

At its heart, Project Vruddhi represents more than a program—it is a testimony to what sustained partnerships, community-centric approaches, and data-driven strategies can achieve. By closely working with the government, healthcare workers, and local communities, the project has successfully piloted and refined interventions aimed at improving maternal, infant, and young child nutrition and care.

The workshop served as a celebration of this collective journey—one marked by innovation, dedication, and impact. Project Vruddhi stands as a model of how insights can be transformed into meaningful, real-world solutions that drive long-termchange and improve lives on the ground.

Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) play a vital role in providing early childhood education, nutrition, and healthcare to young children in underserved communities. However, over the years, many centers in Dhar (Madhya Pradesh), Baran (Rajasthan), and Sanand (Gujarat) had deteriorated due to prolonged use, exposure to harsh environmental conditions, and a lack of regular maintenance. These issues created unsafe, unhygienic, and uninspiring environments, severely impacting the children’s overall well-being and learning outcomes.

A well-maintained Anganwadi is not just a physical space but a foundation for early childhood development. It plays a pivotal role in ensuring cognitive, emotional, and physical growth in children by providing a safe and engaging environment. A poor infrastructure with damaged walls, broken doors, inadequate water supply, and faulty electrical systems creates significant risks, including accidents, lack of hygiene, and reduced learning efficiency.

This refurbishment helped to transform the Anganwadi into a child-friendly, safe, and stimulating environment where young learners can thrive. By improving structural integrity, enhancing aesthetic appeal, and ensuring the functionality of essential utilities, this initiative supported for better health, hygiene, and educational outcomes. Moreover, a well-maintained center will encourage higher attendance, active participation from the community, and overall improvement in service delivery.

Action Against Hunger India, has expanded its operations in India by extending its reach to Chhattisgarh, with a focused intervention in the Gariaband district. This expansion marks an important milestone in the organization’s ongoing mission to create a healthier nation. The strategic interventions in Chhattisgarh aim to address critical issues related to undernutrition, capacity building, and improving the effectiveness of essential services for children and mothers.

Key Interventions :

1. Refurbishing Anganwadi Centers (AWCs)

One of the core components of Action Against Hunger India’s (ACF India) intervention is refurbishing Anganwadi Centers (AWCs), which are the backbone of India’s child care and nutrition services. These centers provide essential services, including immunization, pre-school education, and supplementary nutrition for children under six years of age.

By improving the infrastructure and equipment in these centers, we aim to create a more conducive environment for early childhood development and effective service delivery. Refurbishment efforts focus on ensuring that AWCs are well-equipped, hygienic, and capable of providing nutritious food and health services. This initiative directly impacts the well-being of children, ensuring they have access to the necessary resources for proper growth and development.

2. Screening Children Under 5 for Undernutrition

In Gariaband, ACF India has initiated regular screenings to detect undernutrition in children under five years of age. Early detection of malnutrition allows for timely intervention and ensures that children receive the necessary nutritional support to thrive.

3. Capacity Building of Frontline Workers (FLWs)

A crucial aspect of the intervention is the capacity building of Frontline Workers (FLWs), including Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), other community health workers. By training FLWs in the latest nutrition and health practices, we will ensure that local communities receive accurate and effective support to combat undernutrition and related health issues.

As Action Against Hunger India broadens its reach, its approach serves as a model for how targeted, community-driven interventions can make a significant difference in building healthier communities. The continued success of these initiatives will help pave the way for a more resilient and nourished future for the people of Chhattisgarh.

Health Awareness in Mumbai

At Action Against Hunger, we are committed to addressing the pressing health challenges facing vulnerable communities. One of the critical issues we are focusing on is anemia, particularly among pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls. To tackle this, we recently launched a mass-level campaign aimed at testing hemoglobin levels, raising awareness about anemia, and ensuring that those in need receive the necessary treatment and supplementation.

The Campaign: A Joint Effort for a Healthier Future

In collaboration with 23 Anganwadi centers, the Community Medicine Department at HBTMC, and Dr. R.N. Cooper Hospital, we conducted a screening campaign in the intervention area of Gaondevi, Mumbai. The campaign successfully reached 768 beneficiaries, including pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls.

Our dedicated team of Anganwadi workers and community mobilizers from Action Against Hunger played a pivotal role in mobilizing beneficiaries for the screening. These workers also facilitated the distribution of vital information about anemia, its causes, and the importance of regular iron and folic acid supplementation. Through this campaign, we were able to emphasize the significance of completing anemia treatments, which are essential for improving overall health.

Raising Awareness and Providing Solutions

As part of the campaign, we conducted blood tests to assess hemoglobin levels among the targeted group. Severe and moderate anemia cases were identified, and these individuals were referred to nearby health posts and Dr. R.N. Cooper Hospital for further care and treatment. This step was made possible through our collaboration with the Community Medicine Department, ensuring that beneficiaries have access to necessary medical support.

Additionally, a core element of this campaign was raising awareness about the importance of anemia testing and how it can help identify underlying health concerns early. We promoted a deeper understanding of how regular iron and folic acid supplementation can significantly reduce the risk of anemia, leading to better maternal and child health outcomes.

Our Objectives and Expected Impact

The primary objectives of this mass-level screening campaign were:

1. Reduce severe anemia in pregnant and lactating women by 20%, and in adolescent girls by 15%.
2. Reduce the overall prevalence of anemia among the selected beneficiaries by 15%.
3. Increase testing for anemia by 50% among the beneficiaries.

We believe that with proper intervention, we can make a significant impact on the health and well-being of the community, particularly the most vulnerable groups. This screening initiative is a step toward improving maternal and child health, ensuring that those affected by anemia can receive timely care and treatment.

Looking Forward: A Healthier Tomorrow

This screening campaign is part of our broader commitment to combating malnutrition and anemia across India. By engaging with local health centers, raising awareness in the community, and ensuring that those in need receive the necessary treatments, we are making strides toward better health outcomes. We are proud of the progress made in Gaondevi, and we remain dedicated to scaling up these efforts in other regions.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the partners, workers, and volunteers who contributed to the success of this campaign. Together, we are working toward a future where anemia no longer holds back the health and potential of our communities.

Stay tuned for more updates on our health initiatives and how we continue to fight for a healthier and nourished India.

Action Against Hunger’s interventions in Sabarkantha, Gujarat, through Project Vruddhi, focused on improving maternal and child health and nutrition outcomes by strengthening systems in collaboration with Gujarat’s ICDS-WCD and Health Departments.
Through this initiative, we provided technical support to enhance service delivery mechanisms, addressing critical challenges such as childhood malnutrition and maternal and child anemia. Additionally, we worked to bridge gaps in service delivery and actively promoted the increased uptake of essential health and nutrition services within the community.
To commemorate the progress and achievements of the project, which began its implementation in 2021, we hosted a District-level dissemination workshop in December 2024. This event served as a platform to highlight major impacts, share key learnings, and celebrate collaborative successes. The workshop was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including Dr. R. B. Sutariya (CDHO, Sabarkantha), Ms. Alpaben Solanki (Program Officer, Sabarkantha), and Dr. S. H. Dedrotiya (I/C ADHO & RCHO, Sabarkantha). The gathering also included Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs), Taluka Health Officers ( THOs), members of the Jilla Panchayat, and the Action Against Hunger team. The workshop underscored the importance of sustained collaboration with the government as a model for sustainable development.

During its tenure, Project Vruddhi achieved remarkable improvements in maternal and child health and nutrition outcomes. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among children below five months reached an impressive 89%, while timely initiation of complementary feeding rose to 53% for children aged 6-8 months, with 76% of those aged 6-11 months receiving complementary feeding on time. Among children aged 9-11 months, 48% achieved minimum dietary diversity, and 65% of children aged 6-23 months received a minimum acceptable diet. On the maternal health front, 83% of pregnant women registered within the first trimester, ensuring timely access to healthcare, while over 87% attended four or more antenatal care (ANC) check-ups, with 99% receiving at least one ANC visit. Additionally, Iron-Folic Acid (IFA) tablet distribution achieved 93% coverage, with a significant improvement in adherence.

While celebrating collective achievements, participants also identified gaps to address, reaffirming their commitment to ensuring a healthier start for every child.