17 February 2009

Mrs.Nisha Naidu has been working as a facilitator for the Sure Start Project for the last 2 years. The project area where she conducts her work is in a densely populated slum close to Pune railway station. Most of the people there live in tin sheds and living conditions are very unhygienic due in part to the narrow roads, lack of drainage systems and bad sanitation. There is also a lot of violence and crime within this area, partly because of the lack of education and broken homes. During her time there she met a woman called Meera who was 4 months into her pregnancy. Meera lived with her husband and mother-in-law in a small hut within the slum. Her husband was a labourer and worked from early in the morning till 9.30pm. When Nisha first met Meera she became worried because Meera refused to speak. Nisha then contacted Meera’s mother-in-law who explained that Meera had become depressed after the death of her first baby. Meera had given birth to her child at home without proper medicine or qualified staff and the baby had died within two days. Meera was feeling bad about her current pregnancy and dismissed the intervention of hospitals. After a month, Nisha was able to communicate with Meera to educate her about the importance of anti-natal care, for both mother and child. Meera was also educated on the importance of healthy eating, anemia, birth preparations and being aware of physical complications that can arise during or after a delivery. In addition Nisha discussed the issues of money and healthcare, emphasising the importance of medical check ups. Meera had refused to register at the hospital, but with the help of Nisha, she finally agreed to participate in the Sure start weekly sessions at Deep Griha. Here she was examined by a female doctor and with her advice Meera registered at the hospital. She was 8 months pregnant by this stage. After 9 months Meera successfully delivered a baby girl at the hospital weighing 3 kg. Meera said that it was because of the work of the Sure Start team that she had been able to get through the pregnancy and now had a beautiful baby girl. She had accepted going to the Doctor, had registered with the Hospital, had a blood examination, taken vaccines and Iron and Folic acid tablets and her baby was the fruit of all her efforts!

Category: Case Study

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