Another step towards fight against Child Malnutrition

Lakshmi is the 15 month old daughter of Radheshyam Gameti from Negadia Bheel Basti at Rajsamand. Lakshmi was severely malnourished weighing a mere 3.2 kg with 2.3 as Haemoglobin count.  Even after the repeated efforts of Mangilal, the KHUSHI coordinator at Anganwadi Centre, Lakshmi’s parents did not take her to the hospital for treatment. It is only when KHUSHI nutrition specialist, Ms. Shweta Dave intervened, did they admitted her to the MTC Centre at Nathdwara. But when Lakshmi’s health got critical, KHUSHI team got her admitted  to the hospital and initiated her treatment with professional team of doctors. Lakshmi required Blood for her quick recovery. As she had rare Blood Group – AB –ve, different channels like social media were utilized to request people to donate blood.

Finally, the help reached and now Lakshmi is at recovery stage.

According to a status report on the Anganwadi (day care centre) programme, officially known as ICDS, about 2.3 cr children in India, up to 6 years of age are suffering from malnourishment and are under-weight,. Despite many years to India’s independence, where country has socio-economically developed, child malnutrition problem has remained unchanged for years.

Poverty is not the only cause of malnutrition, it may be an important cause due to lack of adequate food but lack of education and resources to care for their children sums up the problem of Malnutrition.

One positive change that Lakshmi’s incident brought was that lot many case of malnourishment from her village came into limelight and children were admitted to MTC Centre of Nathdwara for the treatment with the help of KHUSHI team.

Hindustan Zinc’s Child Care Campaign – “KHUSHI” has always believed in creating awareness and fight against malnutrition in children. By saving life of Lakshmi, it has only strengthen their mission to make Indian a malnourished free nation.