Physical Health India Project #1881

Life Saving Treatment to Children in Rural India

by Seva Mandir

Project Report | Nov 1, 2021
A Gift of Good Health For This Diwali

By Atul Lekhra | Programme Incharge

Dear Friend,

Urmila, 4 years old, is a tribal girl living in a mud house with her family. Road connectivity to their village is very poor and there is no public health facility so people have to rely upon the Community Health Center at a far away town.

Even though Urmila is her parent’s only child, they live with 7 other family members in their small house. Her parent’s income is just Rs 6,000 ($80) a month. Her mother is illiterate and father had studied only up to 5^th standard. Her mother is involved in household chores and father is a daily wage laborer.

Urmila was in the SAM (Severe Acute Malnutrition) category when she was first screened for her nutritional status as per the World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards in the first camp. At that time she was very weak. She was then given Ready-to-Use-Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and Medicines. Subsequently, she attended the follow up camp in which there was a little improvement in her weight and she was still in the SAM category. She was given medicines and RUTF again.

In total she was given 28 RUTF packets (14 at screening camp + 14 at follow up camp). She consumed all the RUTF packets and prescribed medicines. There are no side effects to RUTF and she also loves the taste of the food.

A visit to her house was conducted to ascertain her status. When checked for her height and weight exactly after three months from initial screening camp, she showed an increase in weight of around 1.8 Kgs (from 10.5 kg to 12.3 kg). Our staff did regular follow up of the child according to the protocol.

Now she is moved out of SAM category. Even the family members are happy to see their child healthy and playful.

Thank you for your support and for the confidence that you have placed in us. Urmila’s story and many others like her would not have been possible without the help of donors.

We are excited to share with you that our project is participating in GlobalGiving’s Giving Tuesday Campaign. The campaign will last 24 hours, from 00:00:00 EST to 23:59:59 EST on November 30, 2021. Please help us win the Incentive Funds by donating again to our project.

Thank you once again for all your help and support. From all of us here in Seva Mandir we wish you and your family a very HAPPY DIWALI, the Festival of Lights.

Warm regards,

Atul Lekhra & the Seva Mandir Team

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Jul 27, 2021
Helping Malnourished Children During Pandemic

By Atul Lekhra | Programme Incharge

Malnutrition is the leading cause of child deaths in India. Between 40 and 50% of child deaths under the age of five are due to malnourishment. More than 60% of children in Seva Mandir’s work area are suffering from some form of malnutrition. The current pandemic scenario has further worsened the situation.

The reasons for child malnutrition are multidimensional, ranging from inappropriate feeding and childcare practices and endemic poverty to lack of sanitation facilities and safe drinking water and lack of effective healthcare. Seva Mandir has developed program to address this issue in an integrated way whichhas resulted in improvements in rates of malnutrition.

Mini (name changed), was just 1 year old when she began suffering from vomiting, diarrhea and a high fever. She was brought to the community health centre where she was diagnosed as being Severely Acute Malnourished (SAM) and referred to the Seva Mandir supported Malnourishment Treatment Center (MTC). The doctor advised her to be admitted as soon as possible as her condition was critical. She had not been eating properly and was losing weight.

Her mother was unaware of the devastating effects of malnutrition and thought that her daughter was suffering from a minor ailment and would recover soon. Mini was admitted weighing just over 5kg, putting her in the most critical category. She stayed at the MTC for 13 days and started showing signs of recovery soon after her treatment began. She began to eat food which was rich in energy, fat and protein. When she was discharged from the MTC after 13 days she weighed 5.4kg, could hold her head up, which she was unable to do before, and was much more active. She is now healthy and in a normal nutritional category. Meanwhile her mother and family were counselled on recommended nutrition for the child.

This new life for Mini has only been made possible because of the support Seva Mandir receives from well-wishers like you. However, there are many more children like Mini who are still in danger and need your support.

We hope that you will continue to support our project and help us in making a positive change in the lives of hundreds of children in need.

Thank you again for your generous support. Stay safe and well.

Warm regards,

Atul Lekhra & the Seva Mandir Team

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Apr 2, 2021
Helping Children Overcome Malnutrition

By Atul Lekhra | Programme Incharge

Malnutrition is a significant issue effecting children throughout Rajasthan. Government data shows only 3.4% of children aged between 6 - 23 months receive an adequate diet & 61% of children are underweight. People tend not to see malnourishment as a medical problem so do not seek treatment. When they do, hospitals are located far away, and parents lose vital income when they take children for treatment.

Seva Mandir’s intervention reaches children aged from 7 months to 5 years old from poor rural and tribal families. Our doctors & nurses provide treatment for SAM (Severe Acute Malnourished) children with Ready-to-Use-Therapeutic Foods & routine medical care. SAM children who have larger medical complications are referred to hospitals for more intensive treatment.

But, the current pandemic scenario worsened the situation. During lock down- regular home visits, monitoring of children, nutritional assessment of children was discontinued, however, Balsakhis (children’s caretaker trained by Seva Mandir) continued counselling of mothers through phone calls and informal interactions. Earlier last year, 18% of children were underweight, which during the lockdown rose to 42%. However, after resuming of work, prevalence of underweight has decreased by 10% (42% to 32%). Despite of the current challenges, Seva Mandir is continuously working hard to improve the status.

Neha (name changed), a young and cheerful 4-year-old girl, has experience of medical care administered through Seva Mandir camps. Her father, who is an agricultural labourer takes care, alongside his wife, of Neha and her younger sister. Despite their efforts, both daughters suffer from malnutrition from combined causes of infrastructure absence and rural poverty. Neha and her sister accompany each other to Seva Mandir’s camps, where vital care is given from nurses and a Balsakhi.

Like many other infants in her village, Neha was a patient of diarrhoea caused by malnutrition through decreased nutrient absorption. She receives two daily meals from the Seva Mandir caretaker ensuring her dietary requirements are met by providing her with carbohydrates, protein, iron and other vital minerals. Now, Neha weighs 12 kgs, showing she is well nourished and with continuous striving from family and nurses she will soon live a healthy and prosperous life.

Had your support not been there, we would have not been able to help Neha and many more children like her. We hope that you continue to support our project in future and help eradicate the malnutrition. $10 from you can support the treatment for 1 malnourished child.

Best wishes and take care,

Atul Lekhra & the Seva Mandir team

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