Awareness Programs for Adolescent Girls

This month, we started awareness programs for teen girls. At our first meeting, in a small village, 13 girls participated. Health and hygiene topics were covered, and we read with them the Meena story, 'Free from Worms'. (Most people in the villages are infected with parasites.) The importance of iron intake was also covered as studies conducted in India of micronutrient deficiency confirm the high prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls and women. Iron and calcium tablets were distributed by the village health nurse and arrangements were made with the nearest primary health care centre to distribute de-worming tablets.

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New Evening Study Centre

These beautiful girls are from a Dalit Colony (Untouchables), despised by society and separated
even from the rest of their village. Last month we started an evening study center
in their colony. They and the other children in their colony will receive regular help with their
studies, and enouragement to finish high school. Education can provide them a chance at a better
life, (especially as girls,) and a path out of extreme poverty. Here our program coordinator,
Nelson, is distributing stationary supplies to them, donated by a local company.

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Meetings for pregnant and new mothers

We are continuing to visit different villages to hold awareness programs with mothers. At our latest meeting, we learned that the average birth weight of the children was 2 to 2.5 kg (4.5 to 5.5 lbs.) indicating lack of nutrition during their pregnancy. Also several mothers were giving cows milk to their babies which was causing them to be sick often .  They were explained the importance of nutrition and breast-feeding, and encouraged to take children for their regular medical check-ups at the local government clinic.

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