On the 20th September 2018, also observed as Mother and Child Health Nutrition Day (MCHN Day), three SIDART team members headed to the Jawahar Nagar Slum for the weekly visit to the Anganwadi Centre. The team was greeted warmly by the Anganwadi worker, Pramila Ji, who was in the midst of teaching Anganwadi kids. She was working along with ASHA, who was documenting the growth charts of the registered new born children and their mothers, as well as pregnant women. The volunteers spent time learning about the Mamta Card which is a record issued for every new born child and pregnant motherconsisting of various demographic, physical as well as medical parameters to help follow a child’s growth and development. MCHN Day is observed on every third Friday of each month for this particular Anganwadi.
The ANM was weighing the pregnant women and children, along with lactating mothers, came in a little later and told us about the various kinds of vaccinations that a new born baby along with the mother require. While speaking to the Anganwadi worker, a lady came in with a premature baby in her arms. There was an extensive discussion to understand what was fed to the mother, how the baby was born, what was both of their first meals along with other significant information. Various other women and children came in to get vaccinated. It was heartwarming to witness an entire group of people having a positive outlook towards young women and child care.
We continued talking to these women, interacting with their kids as well as the Anganwadi worker of the area to garner a better understanding of their lives, counsel them accordingly and increase the productivity of our work and efforts.
I’d like to thank the SIDART team for providing us with such a wonderful opportunity as well as an insightful understanding of social well being.
-Audita Bhattacharya