Healthy Mothers, Healthy Societies
 |
Kunti holds her 11-day-old baby. She is visited by a CARE-trained traditional birth attendant. (© 2006 Ami Vitale/CARE)
The records stored in these drawings are one facet of a comprehensive strategy designed by CARE to keep mothers and newborn children in Irukpal healthy and strong. It's a simple tactic, but the rewards are great. Sumo herself represents another facet: She is a mitanin, or volunteer maternal health worker (the word mitanin simply means "friend" in Chhattisgarhi). She and the other mitanins visit individually with all new and expecting mothers in the village on a regular basis. They use the information recorded in the tree diagrams to make sure each woman knows and follows the best practices for maternal health and nutrition.
The approach is centered on the village health and day-care center for mothers and young children. "I came to this village after I got married," Sumo says. "After I arrived, the mitanins called me to come to the health center and I learned about the government services there – the supplemental rations they give out, the immunizations, the infant care. Now, as a mitanin myself, I tell women in my neighborhood as well: When you come to the health center, the mother will be healthy, and the child will be healthy, too."
Striking Results
© 2006 Ami Vitale/CARE (Sumo Nayak, a volunteer health worker locally known as mitanin (or "friend"), educates women in her village about maternal and child health.)
Mitanins like Sumo are the leaders in this change. Trained by CARE and local partner organizations, these women play a key role in teaching their communities about maternal and child health. Unlike the government workers, the mitanins are members of the community and are available at any time. "Previously, many children died from disease," says Sepna Ghosh, a government nurse. "There were problems with pregnancy, and stillbirths. The mitanins are able to speak the local languages and see the women every day. Health education has improved, and due to regular immunization there are fewer child deaths."
The results of these efforts have been striking. In the last five years, infant mortality has dropped 13 percent in Chhattisgarh, and malnutrition in children under 5 has dropped more than 20 percent – the greatest reduction of any state in India!
A Force for Women
© 2006 Ami Vitale/CARE (Janki Kasyap is a traditional birth attendant who works in cooperation with CARE. She provides information, does basic checkups and encourages new and expecting mothers to visit the local health center.)
Asmati smiles as she thinks back on her success. "I feel elated. Like everyone here, I grew up on gruel and water. Never in my life did I think I'd be elected to the village or regional government. But now I have even had the opportunity to visit Raipur, the state capital."
The mitanins of Irukpal are not alone. Across Chhattisgarh, over 1,800 CARE-trained maternal health workers have been elected to the village governments. Health and nutrition issues are being discussed regularly in the village assemblies. CARE works directly with the state government to help them develop state-wide nutrition policies. The result has been a noticeable change in health and attitudes – a change that shines in the faces of mothers and children in Irukpal. "People here used to hide their children in their houses on immunization day," Asmati recalls, smiling. "Now they ask, 'When will my child be immunized?'"
Support CARE today, and let women and their families know that you believe in their future!
|
