After receiving accolades from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the middle-aged one amongst the nine sahiyas (a term for Accredited Social Health Activist – ASHA under health department) Manita Devi said that it was her duty to save life of the children.
“I have been trained for such things and that is what I did to the new born child”, said Manita Devi, one amongst the nine sahiyas in the Urmal village.
The now famous sahiya from rebel hit Urmal village under Chowka police in Chandil sub-division of Seraikela-Kharsawan district on Wednesday received a cheque of Rs 1 lakh from Chief Minister Raghubar Das at Project Bhawan, Ranchi.
However, the 42-year-old Manita Devi, a native of Getalsud in Ranchi, a mother of three children (two boys and a girl), said that she is happy but want to continue with her dedicated services.
She received praise from Prime Minister during a video conference with Anganbari workers and Sahiyas across the country.
Prime Minister had lauded Manita Devi for saving the life of a newborn baby who was assumed dead by the family as it was not making noise and motionless by using neonatal care training.
A matriculate from Getalsud in Ranchi, Manita received training at Chandil health center and in Seraikela community health center. She has been working as a sahiya since 2006 and has so far helped in successful delivery and healthcare of over 50 newborn.
“I have given mine mobile number to the panchayat mukhiya and almost everyone having pregnant lady. Though I prepare my children for school and also cook for my family, but whenever there is a call from any pregnant woman in distress even at 2 am in night I go to the house with my husband,” said Manita.
Recalling the day on July 27, 2018, Manita said they received a call at 2 am in the night. A boy was born in a family in the village. The family members were shocked as they thought child to be born dead. They were about to go for the cremation as the infant was not crying or breathing. Manita rushed to their home and insisted on examining the newborn. With the help of Sahiya kit and training experience, she found that the boy was breathing slowly with very weak pulse movement. She cleaned the infant’s nose and mouth that resulted into free breathing. The child started crying and the environment of grief turned into happiness.
