The road to transformationDewansh is five years old, and has autism. Three years back his condition was very severe. He used to wander, scream, throw tantrums, and could not sit in groups. But over the years, with a lot of work and patience, he has greatly improved. Now Devansh who is more quiet, can sit in a group, wait for his turn, listen quietly during story times, and be patient for the 15 minute one-on-one session. He gives things when asked, follows some directions, and plays besides other children. Devansh uses meaningful words to express his needs, and hums almost all the songs that he would have heard. He can also now feed himself. He occasionally throws up a tantrum, but calms down very easily. His father, who supervises teachers in the government school system, couldn't be happier. 
Rope maker, NirmalaNirmala, living in village Mayapur was from a poor family. She had to struggle for meeting the daily needs of her family. The total members in her family are six and her husband also works as a laborer. His earning was not sufficient to run the family. Around 1 ½ years ago a self help group was formed. In the beginning Nirmala was very nervous and afraid to become the member of the group because she thinks that they will take money and run away. Later on the Shifa team and the group members made her understand the benefit and objective of this program. After motivating she joined the group and after six months she took loan for the amount of Rs. 1000 from the group and Rs. 4000 from the bank. Then she purchased (Bhabad) grass, prepared ropes for selling. Her business of rope making has grown well. She is saving some amount and running the house. Even she returned the loan with interest in time to the group and to the bank. She is very happy today because she is helping her husband in running the house. She feels after joining the group she is able to do all these. Now she is motivating other poor women to join the groups. 
Mithun, an encouragement for all10 year old Mithun was admitted, severely ill, to the hospital. He weighed only 12 kgs, had 2 gms haemoglobin, and could not walk. He was an orphan and lived with his brothers who did odd jobs for a living. There was no one to take care of him during the day. The hospital took Mithun under its wings and admitted him to the school. He lived in the boy's hostel and was provided good food and cared for by the wardens. The school children donated clothes, books and other materials and the hospital provided free food, lodging and education. Mithun prospered under the love and care showered on him. He started to walk slowly and also quickly learnt his school lessons. Mithun can now play football and has gained 18 kgs in 3 months. He also attends Sunday school. He is very friendly and an encouragement for all the staff who had an opportunity to look after him. 
Ritu Survived Surgery20-year old Ritu was on the verge of death when she was brought to the hospital and abandoned there. A month ago she had an induced abortion, which got infected leading to a perforated uterus. Ritu was an orphan and had been sold to a dance troupe by her uncle. The hospital decided to conduct the surgery to save her life. Ritu survived the surgery and despite a very stormy post-operative period she regained her health. She spent almost two months in the hospital, during which period the nursing staff befriended her and met her needs – she was fed, clothed and even entertained by them! Over time she was transformed from a surly, difficult person, to a smiling, enthusiastic girl, eager to help out in the ward in small ways. At the time of discharge, she was equipped with a healed body and soul, ready to face the challenges ahead of her in the strength of the Lord.  There is Hope for ShivaThe first time I saw Shiva was when she came to the Anugrah Intervention Centre for assessment. I knew from her smile that she was full of energy and wanted to learn and do more. Shiva has cerebral palsy and lived with challenges that made everyday things harder to do. She started having head control at the age of three years, but cognitively understood quite a few things. It’s been six months now since I have been working with her and Shiva is doing so well. She can now roll on her sides, can sit for a few seconds by herself, and is making a lot of sounds and says few words like ‘dede’. She recognizes common objects and indicates for toilet. She is also a very emotional girl. Her parents also have had a change of attitude - I still remember her mother saying that she will not improve, and now her mother has learnt to celebrate when Shiva learns small things. Shiva has the ability to learn. She has a modified chair at home in which she sits and feeds herself. She also has a standing frame in which she can stand with support. Shiva will be coming to the Anugrah Intervention Center with her mother for a week. Anugrah is an intervention centre for Children with special development needs. It provides special education, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and clinical services to about 135 special children. Community based rehabilitation is also provided to children in their homes through animators. At present, Anugrah has a trained and dedicated team of professional workers, supported by consultants from the Herbertpur Christian Hospital. Anugrah will give Shiva the opportunity to play and learn with other kids and will also give her parents a chance to see other parents and children. I hope to see Shiva sit independently, eat by herself, communicate at least a few words in another few months. I don’t know what the future holds for her, but yes, I believe that Shiva if taught, will progress very quickly. It’s been a privilege to be part of their family and Shiva has taught me so many things. Kripa Varghese is the Occupational Therapist with Anugrah. She manages the Community Based Rehabilitation activities of Anugrah Centre. Community Based Rehabilitation is provided to those children in the target villages, who cannot come to the centre. 
Rani Lives to hold her babyRani Murmu looked forward to the birth of her fifth child. At 36, and already having four girls, Rani hoped it would be a boy this time. Rani is a Malto tribal. The Malto tribes are a primitive tribal group living in the hills in Jharkhand. The death rate among the Malto tribals are so high, that it exceeds the birth rate. The infant mortality rate of 147 and Maternal Mortality rate of 460 are pointers to this grave situation. When Rani reached the last stage of labour, she came to the Prem Jyoti hospital for her delivery. During the delivery, Rani developed complications and the doctor had to do a symphysiotomy (emergency procedure) to save Rani’s life. Though the baby had passed meconium in the womb, he came out crying lustily. Rani was overjoyed to see the baby. But Rani had a difficult time after delivery with urine leakage, and had to be on catheter for a month. The efficient and loving care provided by the hospital team, helped Rani to recover completely. A satisfied Rani now regularly brings her baby to the hospital for immunizations. The Prem Jyoti Community Hospital has been working among the Malto tribals of Jharkhand since December 1996, focusing mainly on their health needs through a network of Community Health Volunteers, peripheral clinics, and a Health centre in 140 target villages. The Malto tribals form about 10% of the population in Sahibganj District of Jharkhand. 36% of the population are Santal tribals and the rest non-tribals. The Maltos are characterized by a diminishing population, pre-agricultural level of technology and extremely low level of literacy. They live in small hamlets (10-50 houses) scattered in the districts of Sahibganj, Pakur, Godda and Dumka of Jharkhand State. Most of the villages are remote and inaccessible. A study done by India Today, a leading magazine in India, ranked Sahibganj district as the least developed in the whole country. Since the bifurcation of the Bihar state, the district has seen some visible progress, though at a very slow pace. The entire district with a total population of over a million does not have a single, functioning referral hospital to manage complicated cases. In view of the need for basic health services for all communities, the Prem Jyoti Health Centre was opened up for the general public in 2003. This resulted in the doubling of Outpatient numbers and increase in the number of admissions. The project was upgraded as a hospital with 15 beds in 2004, continuing the community health work among the Malto people. 
Kasiram reaps a bumper cropThough Kasiram called himself a Baba and lived in a temple, he was not always one. Four years ago, when his crops failed, Kasiram out of desperation, left his family and went to live in the temple. But that was not the end of Kasiram’s story. The members of HBM Community Health & Development Project in Lalitpur contacted Kasiram and encouraged him to take up farming. Using the inputs provided by the project, Kasiram and his family labored hard in their field. They made dykes all around the field and across the slope to store the rain water. To prevent erosion and degradation of the soil, they made gully plugs. Kasiram became a member of the farmer’s club and seed bank. He first purchased chick peas and planted in his field but the yield was not satisfactory. Next rainy season he got maize seed and sowed it in the low lying land. He was surprised when he reaped a bumper crop. Encouraged, Kasiram sowed a second crop – wheat, during the rabi season, to meet their annual food requirement. He was rewarded with another bumper crop. He later went for integrated cropping using wheat, chickpea and pulses. Through the family’s hard work, they reaped eight quintal pulses, three quintal wheat and four bags of Chickpea. With the extra income which he earned, Kasiram returned the seed loan to the club. The whole family now lives and works together and has become self-reliant. 
Sushila Acquires a LivelihoodLife was a continuous struggle for Sushila. Living in poverty, not knowing where her next meal would be coming from, Sushila faced a bleak future. Sushila lives in a village in Balrampur District of rural Uttar Pradesh. Seeing Sushila’s plight, the village Self Help Group (started by Prem Sewa Community Health and Development Project) invited Sushila to become a member. Initially Sushila was reluctant, but after hearing the benefits which the group members received, Sushila eagerly joined it. One of the activities of the Self Help Group was to save a sum of money every month in a money box provided by the Project. At the end of the month, the money would be deposited in the village bank. Each member of the group received a bank passbook where their individual contributions were recorded. As Sushila struggled to meet her needs, the group members decided to give Sushila a loan. With the loan Sushila set up her own vegetable shop. Sushila worked hard and over a short period of time Sushila’s little shop flourished. Sushila now earns a steady income from her shop, and has become quite self-reliant.  Bhagyawati Learns to Live Healthy!Bhagyawati of Harshpur village in rural Uttar Pradesh understood the importance of domestic hygiene and sanitation. She had often seen her grand children suffering from diarrhea and cholera and knew these were due to the unhygienic conditions prevalent in her house and surroundings. But she was helpless to do anything. She had no means or knowledge to improve her family's health condition. When the Lalitpur HBM Community Health Project launched the Water Supply and Sanitation Program in her village, Bhagyawati displayed keen interest in learning the good hygiene practices demonstrated by the health workers. She not only learnt them but also applied it in her daily life. With the help of her village Local Governing Body (Gram panchayat), Bhagyawati built a toilet in her house. She also dug a soakpit and drainage system near her house to manage the wastewater. Bhagyawati learnt simple safe drinking water practices and started observing them. She kept the water pots covered with lids and used a ladle to take water out of the pot. As a result, Bhagyawati's family is now healthier and saves the money that they used to spend on medicines. Through the Water Supply and Sanitation Program, the HBM Community Health Project helps the communities to improve their sanitary condition and promotes healthy practices. The project involves the Community Based Organizations like Self Help Groups, Farmers club, Adolescence groups and school children in awareness building on issues like cleanliness, safe drinking practices and personal hygiene and sanitation. Periodical cleaning campaigns are organized in the village. Walls are painted with slogans and messages on sanitation and healthy practices. The Major component of the Water Supply and Sanitation Program is building toilets, soak pits and drainage system for each household. Kitchen garden, vegetable garden, compost pits for proper waste management and installation of Hand pumps are the other components of the project. The community shares the cost on each component which ensures active participation. The impact of the program could be seen by the reduced disease prevalence and reduced spending on health related expenses in the community.  Kamrun Earns a LivingKamrun Nissa struggled in poverty right from her birth. Born to a poor Muslim family, Kamrun was married off to a widower when she was just a teenager. Then Kamrun and her husband were cheated out of their only source of income - a tiny plot of land, by her husband’s brothers. Kamrun struggled daily in feeding her large family. When the Champak project started a Women's group in her village in Bihar, Kamrun eagerly joined it. Last year, Kamrun along with three woman from the group, took a bank loan and bought a buffalo and a calf and started her own milk business. Initially Kamrun would sell the milk through a middleman in the nearby town. She had to pay a substantial amount to the middleman as his fees. Even then, Kamrun managed to pay off the loan within a year’s time. Emboldened by the success of her small business, Kamrun decided to cut-off the middleman and branch out on her own. The project staff helped her to develop a business plan for her enterprise. Her only additional expenditure was a new set of measuring jugs. Kamrun now collects milk from the other milk-producers and sells it in the town directly. She manages to earn about 2000 Rupees a month. Though Kamrun has to work hard, she enjoys the work and the financial security and independence she gets from her small micro-enterprise.  Sadhna's Sight RestoredSadhna’s world came crashing down when she lost sight in both her eyes. Only 35 years old, and when she should be busily managing her household, Sadhna had to depend on her teenage daughter to run her home. Sadhna could not do even the most simple things by herself. Her husband a poor teacher could not afford to take her to a hospital. Mother of four children, Sadhna struggled with her life. And then Sadhna heard about the eye camp at Ashok Nagar. This eye camp was being conducted by the Harriet Benson Memorial Hospital, an EHA unit at Lalitpur, Madhya Pradesh. With great expectation, Sadhna persuaded her husband to take her to the camp. She hoped against hope that she would be able to get back her sight. At the eye camp, the doctor screened her and found she was bilaterally blind. The eye team decided to do the intraocular lens surgery in her eyes. She was operated on and the operation was a success. Sadhna couldn’t believe her eyes when she found that she could indeed see! Sadhna walked back home, sight restored, eager to pick up the threads of her life again. |
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