aah_admin, Author at Action Against Hunger

Overcoming Adversity: How Prema’s Community and AAH Mobilisers Helped Her Through a High-Risk Pregnancy

Posted on March 31, 2023May 20, 2023 by aah_admin

Prema (name changed), a married woman, lives in Keshvi, Dhudhiya village, with her five children and husband. The remote location and lack of transportation in her region have been a major reason behind the underdevelopment of the village.

Prema’s husband works as a truck driver and frequently spends time away from home. He spends most of his earnings on alcohol, leaving the family’s needs unmet. Prema’s four children belong to the same age group. While Prema struggled to find enough nutritious food while pregnant with her fifth child, and her husband’s alcohol consumption put a strain on their finances. After learning about Prema’s pregnancy, an Anganwadi and AAH Community Mobiliser (CM) discovered that the child she was pregnant with was very weak and was anemic. This stressed Prema for obvious reasons, as it could have led to her losing the child.

Under such scenario, when Prema needed a good amount of care, there was no one else at home to look after her or even take her to the health centre regularly for check-ups. This is when Action Against Hunger team devised a plan to take care of Prema. They took her to the health facility and also visited her home regularly. Prema’s neighbours assisted in providing nutritious food comprising of pulses, vegetables, fruits, and milk. In the seventh month of her pregnancy, Prema suffered stomach aches. Following an investigation, it was determined that the child’s life was in danger, and Prema needed complete bed rest. For two months, Anganwadi health workers and Prema’s neighbours worked together to look after her. Eventually, things went well and Prema was blessed with a healthy newborn.

The Transformational Journey of Raji Bai Sehriya: Empowering a Panchayat in Rajasthan

Posted on March 31, 2023May 20, 2023 by aah_admin

Suwans Panchayat is the largest panchayat in Kishanganj block of Baran district in Rajasthan. It covers around 14 villages and is situated 36 km from the sub-district headquarters in Kishanganj, and 50 km from the district headquarters, in Baran. Raji Bai Sehriya is the lady Sarpanch of the Panchayat and is truly a commendable leader. She is a strong individual and motivated to work with the community. Raji Bai firmly believes that her ambition and dedication shall bring about a transformation in her Panchayat.

For Raji Bai Sehriya, it was not an easy task to embark upon this transformational journey. First, she lacked education and actual experience of working with rural local governance. Despite being aware of the Anganwadi centres in her village and surrounding areas, Raji Bai was initially uncomfortable communicating with Government officials as the head of her Gram Panchayat. This was because she had never visited these centres. However, she gradually became aware of the problems confronting her village, such as lack of potable water and non-functional hand pumps, poor communication and road connectivity, malnutrition, lack of awareness on health and nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, and infrastructure and proper housing.

Further, the Covid-19 pandemic struck during her tenure, making things more difficult for her. However, she received assistance and support from one of her ward leaders during the lockdown. She connected with the representatives at Action Against Hunger through phone calls. Even though she initially relied on the Ward Panch for information, she gradually learned to communicate independently. As her Ward Panch and Action Against Hunger team continued to motivate her, she became more interested in Panchayat affairs.

Despite all the challenges stemming from her illiteracy and lack of knowledge, Raji Bai remained motivated to adapt and learn constantly. She proactively set up meetings with other Panchayat members and Panchayat Samiti officials and was always ready to take a stand. Her ability to take the initiative and learn by observing her surroundings enabled her to develop a well-thought-out strategy for her Panchayat. Raji Bai’s strategy covered all the critical areas like water, sanitation, electrification, and construction of roads and streets in the village.

She became more involved in organising events to spread awareness, such as celebrating World Breastfeeding Week, with the help of Action Against Hunger. Her eagerness to learn more about nutrition led her to participate in commemorating various other days and events. After the pandemic, she visited MCHND with our field team to ensure that Covid-19 protocols were being followed. Raji Bai was keen to establish POSHAN Vatikas and plant trees, so she initiated a planting drive in her Panchayat’s villages. During Nutrition Month, hosted in September, she organised POSHAN Panchayat and raised awareness about ‘POSHAN Thali’, ‘The first 1,000 days of a child’s life’, ‘Child malnutrition’, and ‘Importance of MTC’ in the treatment of Severely Acutely Malnourished (SAM) children with health complications. After receiving information from the Action Against Hunger representative, Raji Bai and the Anganwadi workers visited homes of pregnant women and began to counsel them on the importance of a healthy diet during pregnancy.

At present, Raji Bai is all set to resolve the concern of electricity shortage. She has been meeting and visiting electricity officials and her local area MLAs, because the solution to this problem was beyond the scope of Sarpanch or other Panchayat officials. Apart from these efforts, Raji Bai believes that women’s reservation in the panchayat system can empower village women to take a stand for themselves. She is aware that even though it will take time for women to achieve the needed confidence, the Panchayat encourages them to speak up about their concerns. Raji Bai has received recognition from her community members, officials, and development organisations for her relentless efforts towards bringing about a positive change in her Panchayat.

Improving the survival and well-being of new-borns : Launched Kangaroo Mother Unit (KMC) at Cooper Hospital, Mumbai

Posted on March 28, 2023May 16, 2023 by aah_admin

In a bid to combat malnutrition and improve the nutritional status of children, we recently launched Kangaroo Mother Care Unit (KMC) at HBT Medical College & Dr. R. N. Cooper Mun. Gen. Hospital, Mumbai in collaboration with Cooper Hospital. The KMC unit is aimed at providing support to premature and low-birth-weight infants and their mothers.

The unit was inaugurated by Dr. Shailesh Mohite, Dean of HBT Medical College & Dr. R. N. Cooper Mun. Gen. Hospital Mumbai, and Mr. Ashwini Kakkar, Chairperson of Action Against Hunger. This pilot project has been initiated with the aim of improving the health outcomes for stable, preterm and low birth weight babies and reducing infant mortality.

Kangaroo Mother Care is a simple yet effective method of care for premature or low birth weight babies. It involves skin-to-skin contact between the mother and her baby, with the baby being held upright against the mother’s chest. The KMC method has been proven to be highly effective in reducing mortality rates, improving infant health, and promoting breastfeeding.

The KMC unit at Cooper Hospital will provide mothers and babies with a comfortable and safe environment, where they can receive the necessary care and support. The 24-hour unit will have trained nurses and doctors from Action Against Hunger India to run the unit, along with counseling sessions for the mothers and follow-up post-discharge of the mother and child.

Through this initiative, Action Against Hunger India aims to contribute towards reducing the burden of malnutrition and infant mortality in India. The organization plans to continue working towards improving the health and well-being of mothers and children across the country.

Empowering Women Sarpanches in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh to Fight Malnutrition

Posted on March 21, 2023April 5, 2023 by aah_admin

The Government of Maharashtra recognized our COVID-19 response and relief efforts

Posted on March 21, 2023April 5, 2023 by aah_admin

Recognizing the Unsung Heroes: Sachin Sharma Honoured for his Efforts in Improving Nutrition and Health Services in Rajasthan

Posted on March 21, 2023 by aah_admin

Leading the charge with important stakeholders, to tackle malnutrition in Rajasthan.

Posted on March 21, 2023May 16, 2023 by aah_admin

Action Against Hunger India organized a day long consultation in Jaipur to discuss and analyze policy options on the issues of malnutrition in Rajasthan. The discussion was attended by various representatives from government department, development organizations, and Panchayati Raj representatives. The consultation was addressed by Mr. Naveen Jain, Secretary Panchayati Raj Department and Mr. Ramavtar Meena, Director ICDS Rajasthan.

The state level consultation discussed in detail the ways to improve child malnutrition and maternal health in Rajasthan. While welcoming the guests, Action Against Hunger India’s CEO Mr. Vinay Iyer said, that ‘this consultation will serve as a platform for development partners and agencies to come together and deliberate on the strategies to address child malnutrition in Rajasthan.’ He also emphasized on having an open and honest dialogue on the issue of child malnutrition in the state and at the national level.

Addressing the consultation, Mr. Naveen Jain, Secretary Panchayati Raj highlighted various issues related to nutrition sensitive programming and localization of Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs). He said that in Rajasthan there is a conducive environment that can help defeat severe malnutrition in a time-bound manner. He highlighted the learning and success of Naya Savera project being implemented in Baran district of Rajasthan and emphasized that the project must be replicated by all the district. Naya Savera project identifies severely malnourished children and links them with targeted services like Energy Dense Nutrition Supplement (EDNS) that can help severely malnourished children overcome malnutrition in a timely manner.

Mr. Ramavtar Meena, Director ICDS applauded development partners for their contribution towards maternal and child health and development. He also emphasized on the need of undertaking a holistic approach to address child malnutrition as in addition to issues like poverty and underdevelopment, other dietary, environmental, and care-seeking factors also play crucial role in determining child and maternal health. He hoped that the proposed consultation that plans to bring together partners from various departments and development agencies will compliment the government’s efforts towards eradicating child malnutrition.

Mr. Subodh Kumar Jha, EVP & Chief of Human Resources & Management Services, SBI Life Insurance, said, “While our country is facing a major malnutrition crisis amongst children, pregnant women and nursing mothers. It is extremely humbling to see our efforts invoking overwhelming support from the entire ecosystem. Senior government functionaries, development organizations, NGO partners, Panchayati Raj representatives, corporate India, every stakeholder has converged for solving the very real problem of malnutrition in the country. We sincerely hope that such progressive efforts can catalyse change to make the nation realise its dream of a malnourishment-free India by 2030.”

He further added, ” We are glad to have received this opportunity through our CSR Partner, Action Against Hunger (AAH) to concentrate our efforts towards the larger cause. As by eradicating malnourishment we can truly liberate individuals to pursue their dreams and aspirations, by enabling every child to develop to their full potential.

Other than the senior government officials and department representatives, various development organizations such as UNICEF, Aravali, IPE Global, ActionAid, Evidence Action, Mamta, Piramal Swasthya, KPMG, The Hunger Project, and others also participated and shared their learning during the consultation. It was reiterated that sarpanches have a larger role to play in ensuring that not even a single child remains malnourished. The participants also talked about ways to strengthen village level planning, using Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) to strengthen nutrition services, as well as supporting various village level bodies like VHNDs, VCDCs, and VHCs, etc.

Action Against Hunger pushed for the various needs identified during their program implementation including the availability of functional anthropometric equipment at Anganwadi Centers, sensitization the community on the consumption of Take-Home Ration (THR), and involving communities as key stakeholders in eradicating malnutrition.

Teaming up with Mary Kom & Rani Rampal to eradicate malnutrition

Posted on March 21, 2023May 30, 2023 by aah_admin

Champions for Change: Mary Kom & Rani Rampal Collaborate with Action Against Hunger India to promote health and well-being among women and children in India

Mumbai : May 30, 2023 – Action Against Hunger India has collaborated with Indian sports icon, MC Mary Kom, London 2012 Olympics Bronze Medalist & Former Hockey Captain Rani Rampal to promote the overall health and well-being of women and children in India. The collaboration will contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2 of Zero Hunger by 2030, which aims to eradicate hunger and malnutrition worldwide. The collaboration will focus on creating a positive impact on the lives of countless women and children through creating awareness on these issues and promoting solutions.

According to the recent statistics, malnutrition remains a major public health problem in India, affecting millions of children under the age of five and girls and women. Despite India successfully curbing the issue of hunger and making significant progress in reducing wasting among children in the past few decades, much work still needs to be done to knock-out the issues impeding India’s growth story.

Announcing the collaboration, Vinay Iyer, the Chief Executive Officer of Action Against Hunger India said, “We are grateful to have the support of Mrs. MC Mary Kom the very best example of what women can achieve when given equal opportunities. As we work towards building a healthy India by eradicating the menace of malnutrition among children and mothers and world is nearing the deadline to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we need to have a strategy to counter undernutrition effectively.

To ensure a healthier and brighter future for all children in our country, it is crucial to prioritize and address the critical issues causing undernourishment. By taking decisive action to tackle these issues, we can help our children fully realize their potential and pave the way for achieving the ambitious goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

MC Mary Kom & Rani Rampal, prominent champions of social causes, have joined forces to promote the importance of healthy living for the betterment of society in the past also. In partnering with Action Against Hunger India they aim to encourage action against malnutrition.

“Ensuring a healthy and bright future for our children should be our first priority’”, said MC Mary Kom. “I believe that we all have a responsibility to help our disadvantaged children and their parents to ensure that our children have access to opportunities and level-playing field. I am excited to be working with Action Against Hunger India to make a difference in the lives of these children.”

Expressing her excitement about the partnership, Rani Rampal said, “I am truly honored to join forces with Action Against Hunger. As an athlete, I understand the significance of proper nutrition in achieving optimal performance and realizing one’s potential. It is disheartening to witness the devastating impact of hunger and malnutrition on millions of lives, particularly among children. Through this association, I aim to contribute towards a world where every individual has access to nutritious food and the opportunity to thrive.”

About Action Against Hunger India

At Action Against Hunger, we drive change from the ground up, to make this world free from hunger.

Since inception in 1979, we have led the global fight against hunger. Our work impact more than 26 million lives every year, through a network of 8000 humanitarian professionals across 50 countries. In India, our operations from the grassroots upwards, are focused on taking decisive action against the causes and effects of malnutrition. We equip people with knowledge and awareness, so they can see their children grow up strong, and for whole communities to prosper.

Our programs cover 1265 villages across four states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat with a multidisciplinary approach to tackle malnutrition among children.

With our First 1000 Days plus of life model, which is based on preventative care, we aim to break the cycle of malnutrition during pregnancy and in the early years of a child’s life. As a whole, our interventions aim to improve access to knowledge on food security and ways to combat malnutrition, health and Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).

To know more about us, visit www.actionagainsthunger.in

For further information contact:

Melwyn Sequeira

Director – Resource Mobilisation & Communications

msequeira@actionagainsthunger.in

Rhea Mathews

Manager – Communications

rmathews@actionagainsthunger.in