Banti, a three and a half year old girl, who despite being perfectly healthy, cannot stand or talk. Her father, Dashrath Gope, a resident of Koinara village in Gumla was worried about her situation and had been approaching quacks to cure his daughter.
When he heard of the health camp being organized in his village Gope rushed to the spot with his daughter in arms, seeking help. The doctors at the health camp detected the neurological problem in the child and immediately referred her to RIMS, Ranchi for treatment.
Over 150 families of Koinara village and bordering five tolas (hamlets) in Gumla district got a chance to learn about the various ways to ensure that their children don’t grow up malnourished.
A health and awareness camp organized under Karuna Project, a joint effort of Vikas Bharati and Save the Children, was organized at the Koinara village of Gumla district to provide free medical checkup to children between zero to 59 months of age and inform their mothers about proper nutrition needed for the child.
The doctor from community health clinic, Gumla Sadar, Dr. Sajidullah Khan, along with his team provided medical checkup at the camp where a total of 114 children from the village and neighboring tolas were provided health checkup. The most common complaints were fever, cough, cold or itching, the medication for which was given on the spot.
Mukhiya of the village, Sunil Kullu, urged people to attend such gatherings. "This will help you know what is right for you and your child and at the same time will help us chalk out a plan towards the development of village," he said while interacting with the villagers.
On the occasion, officers of Vikas Bharati and Save the Children informed the villagers about the importance of registering themselves with the ANMs, sahiyyas or sevikas as soon as they get pregnant which will help them not just avail the benefits of various government schemes but at the same time will help them know about how to take proper care of themselves and the child.
Project coordinator from Vikas Bharati, Chandra Kishore Sharma said, "Most of the time women do not get themselves registered due to superstitions like something would happen to their child if they let someone know about their pregnancy at an early
stage. Some of the women are merely shy to let people know about the pregnancy. We told these women that if they do not register on time they would not be able to get all four anti natal checkups which are very much important."
