Ensure children
are immunised
Monitor development
of children and ensure
nutritional supplements
through anganwadis
Support an
anganwadi to
function well
Help eradicate
malnutrition in
one village
between the age of 0-6, provides supplementary nutrition and ante-natal care to children and women.
In the Gudisahi hamlet in Orissa where we work, young Aroti Nayak suffered from severe malnutrition. Her father, a daily-wage labourer, struggled to provide his family of six with two square meals. The nearest aanganwadi was just one kilometre away, but between them flowed a river that swelled to epic proportions thanks to monsoons, creating an obstacle between the children of the village and their health.
When CRY along with our partner, INDIA*, began to monitor the health of the children in the area, Aroti’s symptoms of malnourishment were detected. Working closely with the local aanganwadi we immediately registered her under the CDPO**. They ensured regular interventions and today she receives nutritional supplementary food, and her growth is being regularly monitored to ensure a healthy future for her.
Aroti’s life could be changed because of the timely detection of her condition. But for many other children, malnutrition is a silent killer. Because by the time the symptoms are visible, it has already advanced to a critical stage. Constant monitoring of local aanganwadis and Public Healthcare Centres (PHCs) helps identify cases of malnutrition at an earlier stage and save many children.
With your help, we can ensure the functioning of the aanganwadis and PHCs and give children their right to a healthy, wholesome life. There is not a more crucial time to donate.
** Child Development Project Officer (India) is a part of The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme
supplements and awareness-building activities across several regions in India.
Children (0-1 years)
immunised
New ICDS
centres opened
Children with
malnutrition
identified and registered
Children (0-1 years)
given birth registration
certificates
New Public Health
Centres opened
Public Distribution
System centres
activated
With proper pre-natal care, adequate food and timely health check ups, a pregnant woman stays fit and gives birth a healthy child. Without it she transfers her ill-health to her unborn child, and sets off a cycle of malnourishment.
Lack of healthcare during the first two years of a child’s life can contribute to a lifetime of ill health. Timely polio drops, immunisation and monitored development, are crucial to preventing malnourishment.
It is not enough to feed hunger. Without essential micronutrients like iodine, iron and vitamins thousands of children suffer brain damage, night blindness, rickets, anaemia and even heart failure.
Some families just don't earn enough to feed their children and keep them healthy. They cannot afford healthcare and don't get the supplements they are entitled to. Children are the worst sufferers and they become disease-prone.
