Thursday, November 14, 2024
HomeViduraIn a remote Chhattisgarh village, she gets families to immunise children, redefines...

In a remote Chhattisgarh village, she gets families to immunise children, redefines healthcare accessibility

Lying in the northwest corner of Chhattisgarh, the village of Kolhua lies hidden from the bustling urban landscape. This is an inspiring story by Aishwarya Mohanty about the determination of Saroj Singh, a 29-year-old mahila pravartak who remains dedicated to transforming the health of the village, home to the Gond Adivasis

Lying in the northwest corner of Chhattisgarh, the village of Kolhua lies hidden from the bustling urban landscape. Every step towards progress in this remote village is met with the challenge of uneven, potholed paths. To reach Kolhua, one must navigate a rough, unpaved road, particularly treacherous during the monsoon season. Yet, this daunting journey hasn’t dampened the determination of Saroj Singh, a 29-year-old mahila pravartak (woman activist or initiator) who remains dedicated to transforming the health of the village, home to the Gond Adivasis.

In November 2023, Saroj was selected as a mahila pravartak after undergoing a rigorous selection process and a five-day training programme by WOTR (Watershed Organisation Trust). As she took her first steps in Kolhua as a mahila pravartak, little did the village know that it would redefine healthcare accessibility for them – a place where the need for healthcare interventions was as evident as the soil beneath her feet. But it wasn’t an easy start. Kolhua harboured a history of under-nutrition and reluctance towards immunisation, rooted in a fear of the fevers that often followed.

Promoting immunisation
“I started visiting every house and introducing myself in an attempt to break the ice and get acquainted with people. They were sceptical of me in the beginning because I was, in a way, challenging the years of belief systems that they abided by, and it wasn’t smooth sailing,” Saroj said. Even today, Saroj visits every household, sits with the families, and talks to them about the importance of immunisation and its impact on children. “We discuss nutrition, child and maternal health,” she added.

Reflecting upon the villagers’ apprehension towards immunisation, an elderly woman from the village said, “Our families haven’t been very enthusiastic about immunisation. We always looked at the short-term impact, which was a high fever. But Saroj explained to us the necessity and long-term impacts of the process. The change wasn’t sudden, but gradually people have started immunising their children.”

Initially, when the community was apprehensive of her presence, she covered three to four kilometres daily on foot, immersing herself in the fabric of the community and gradually earning their trust and respect with every interaction. The village has a total of 268 households, settled in three hamlets. Saroj caters to all three anganwadi (nursery) centres in these hamlets. Under her guidance, the village has witnessed a remarkable 25 per cent improvement in overall immunisation rates.

Ensuring better nutritional status
Apart from immunisation, as a mahila pravartak, Saroj is also ensuring improved dietary intake for young children to enhance their overall health. Until the 18th of every month, all children in the village are weighed and monitored. In cases where weight gain stagnates, signalling potential health concerns, she ensures prompt referrals to the Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) in Biharpur, located 12 kilometres away.

“If a child is found to be underweight, then I push for better nutritive food. We usually promote tiranga bhojan: citrus fruits like oranges, important whites like milk and eggs, and green leafy vegetables. We pay extra attention to these children and regularly monitor their health,” Saroj said. The village has seen an overall improvement in the health of 11 children, while four have been referred to the NRC. (Tiranga refers to the three colours on the Indian national flag – orange, white and green.)

Just like Kolhua, across 32 other villages in Koriya and Surajpur Districts of Chhattisgarh, a total of 39 mahila pravartaks have been recruited to address the health and nutrition concerns in the villages. They have been recruited under the Wasundhara Gramvikas Karyakram, which is being implemented with the support of Andheri Hilfe Bonn (AHB). Across these 32 villages, 270 children are being monitored.

Saroj is now known throughout the village for the impactful work she does.

Monitoring women’s health
As a mahila pravartak, Saroj also focuses on women’s health, especially for pregnant women and lactating mothers, advocating for regular check-ups and family planning measures to ensure maternal and child health. Working in synergy with anganwadi workers and auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs), Saroj has supported them.

“I sat down with Saroj Didi to understand family planning, how to understand the gap between bearing a child, and how I should take care of myself to keep myself and my baby healthy. It was beneficial, as otherwise, one needs to go to the doctor for consultation. But she is always around and ready to help, whenever we need it,” said 23-year-old Srimanti Singh, who is expecting her first child.

An opportunity for self-discovery
The change has been equally rewarding for Saroj, both personally and professionally. Though a native of the same village, Saroj was confined to her home, performing household duties and taking care of her family. But today, she is a known name in every household. “I came to this village 11 years ago after my marriage, but no one here knew me in all these years except for a few neighbours. But today everyone knows me by my name, not as someone’s wife or relative, but for the work I do,” Saroj said.

The opportunity has also helped Saroj live her childhood dream. “I always wanted to be a nurse, but I couldn’t study further due to financial constraints. I completed Class XII and got married. When this opportunity came up that revolved around health and nutrition, I couldn’t resist applying. It has been a learning experience for me too, and I wish to keep contributing to the community’s well-being,” she added.

(Courtesy: WOTR/ wotr.org. The writer is an independent journalist and researcher and reports on the often overlapping themes of gender, human rights, climate change and environment.)

RELATED ARTICLES