1. Recovery of the SAM child at NRC
Bhisma Bhoi, presently a 3 years and 3 months old boy of the Kodobhata village in Mahalinga Gram Panchayat of Golamunda block, Kalahandi district born to Hemant Bhoi and Sushila Bhoi on 24.03.2019.
The family belongs to the below poverty line category. Bhisma and her mother always attend the VHND. One day, the health workers checked his health condition of the Bhisma in VHND and identified that he was underweight as per his age. His weight was 8kg 970 grams, his height was 85m, and his arm size was 11.5cm.
The family was getting the red-colored Sattu/ Chatua packet and the double ration for the boy. Previously the boy was severely malnourished, so the community coordinator of the Chale Chalo, Mrs. Baidehi Sahu, visited his home and met with the family members. She explained the health condition of their son and the impact of the condition if not treated on time. She explains the NRC’s role and its benefits for the family. She also added that the NRC provides free food and medicine to the mother and child and also Rs100. per day till the stay on NRC. Mrs. Baidehi suggested taking Bhisma to NRC for his timely treatment. Mrs. Sushila Bhoi asked for some time to discuss the whole matter with the other family members.
After a few days, Mrs. Sahu again visited Bhisma’s house. Mr. and Mrs. Bhoi agreed to take their son to the NRC. The mother and the child stayed for 15 days at NRC and received free food and medicines. Also got a total amount of Rs.1500(Rs.100 per day). Before leaving the center, Bhisma had his health checkup again, where his weight increased to 10kg 308grams, height 86m, and his arms were 11.6cm. Now the child is in good condition. The family thanked the Chale Chalo team for improving the health condition of the child.
2. Weight improvement of the SAM child
Ayaan Majhi, boy born to Karuna Majhi and Pankajini Majhi on 8.11.2021. The Majhi family lives at Baburmunda village of Leter gram panchayat in Golamunda block of Kalahandi district. On 12.04.2022, during the growth monitoring held in the AWC, Ayaan had his growth measurement, where he was identified as a severely acute malnourished child and marked in the red-color code in the growth monitoring chart. After identification as a SAM child, the field facilitator, Mrs. Rekha Thappa, frequently visited the home of the child and advised the parents to start taking good care of him by adding boiled vegetables to his diet, such as papaya, banana, potato, and beans, carrot, pumpkin, green leafy vegetables, seasonal fruits, milk, cereals, etc., on a daily basis. She also suggested the family for taking him to the Anganwadi center every month for his growth monitoring and consult ASHA for giving vitamin supplements for regular intake.
She recommended Ayaan’s family take him to the NRC for his treatment, but the parents were upset with their family situation, which is not allowing them to take the child to the NRC. Listening to every suggestion of the field facilitators, Ayaan’s mother, Mrs. Pankajini Majhi, took him to the AWC every month for his growth measurement and followed the diet advised by Mrs. Thappa. Then on 13.06.2023, Mrs. Majhi attended the VHND held at Baburmunda village and had the check-up of his son, where she found that Ayaan’s weight has increased to 11.500, height 67.5, and arm measurement was 13.5cm, which they marked him in the green color code of the growth monitoring chart. The field facilitator and ASHA suggested continuing the proper diet for the healthy growth of both mother and the child.
3.Health recovery of a high-risk mother
This case study is of Jema Jali, wife of Dharmu Jali lives in Kanakpur village of Khaliapalli gram panchayat in Golamunda block of Kalahandi district. Dharmu works as a daily labourer, and the Jali family comes below-poverty line. Ms. Basamati Bhoi, the community facilitator, regularly visits the village and conducts meetings with adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children to discuss the importance of health and nutrition, and shares the govt health facilities available in their areas. During each meeting with pregnant and lactating mothers, Ms. Bhoi focuses on the health facilities provided in the VHND and immunization programs. Jema Jali who once attended the program conducted by Chale Chalo, got sensitized on the pregnancy issues and importance of health and nutrition during the period.
Jema found her last menstrual period date on 10.12.2022 and registered her second pregnancy in the VHND held on 08.02.2023. During the VHND, the ANM tested her hemoglobin, and sugar, weight, and provided the iron tablets for regular consumption, but her health her was fine during the first check-up at VHND. Again, Mrs. Jali attended the VHND on 23.05.2023, she had her second check-up, and the ANM identified that Mrs. Jali is a high-risk mother, and gave her the red card, and found that she didn’t consume the iron tablets during her first and second trimester.
Next, after some days, Ms. Basamati Bhoi, the community facilitator, visited Jema’s home and discussed her health issues and the precautions to be taken with her family members. She also advised her to attend VHND regularly, to take nutritious vegetables such as papaya, drumsticks, beans, tomato, brinjal, etc., and medicines on time, maintain her health and hygiene, and take a good rest every day and consult the doctor at CHC, Chaparia, for her treatment as she was physically weak.
After Ms.Bhoi’s suggestions, Mrs. Jali took good care of herself and started a kitchen garden at her home.
Finally, on 31.08.2023, Jema went to the CHC Chaparia and had a normal delivery weighing 2.300kg. Now both the mother and the child are in good health.