About NGO:

SNEHA, founded by Dr. Armida Fernandez in 1999, is a registered not for profit organization which works to improve the health of women and children in urban slums. SNEHA currently works with close to a million people in 16 municipal wards of Mumbai in 4 areas of public health - Maternal and Newborn health, Child Health and Nutrition, Sexual and Reproductive Health and in Preventing Violence Against Women and Children. SNEHA also believes in collaborating with existing systems. We work in partnership with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai and government programs to ensure effective delivery of public services. Our programs encourage community members to utilize the public health system and work to improve and standardize treatment.

Fund Usage:

Aahaar (Child Health and Nutrition)

SNEHA follows a continuum of care approach in tackling malnutrition. SNEHA's four Aahar Sakhis, along with the ICDS anganwadi workers, weigh all children under the age of six in the intervention areas and group them for further intervention according to their vulnerability.

The Aahar Sakhis then form groups of young mothers and pregnant women and impart information and encourage behavior change to improve nutritional and child care practices. This 32 session module covers all aspects of infant health and nutrition . 12 such groups are currently functional in Dharavi.

A nutrition committee comprising members of the groups and some community elders and men has been formed. The role of the committee is one of "supportive supervision" of the ICDS; to ensure that the services offered by the ICDS are actually delivered and accessed by the children of the community.

Children who are moderately malnourished are admitted to the Day Care Centres run in partnership with the ICDS. The two day care centres provide four meals a day along with milk and fruits to nourish children under five back to health. The calorie and nutritive content of the food is carefully monitored by SNEHA's nutritionist. The centre also provides early child education and encourages development of cognitive as well as motor skills. It takes about four months for a moderately malnourished child to return to normalcy with the care provided at the DCC. Children are retained at the centre for a further two months to ensure that they do not slip back, and are then discharged. They are placed at the nearest anganwadi and monitored for a further year by SNEHA's Aahar Sakhis.

Monthly parent meetings and regular home visits provide the intensity required to motivate behavior change in infant and young child feeding practices at home. Celebration of weight gain and reduction in illness episodes keeps the focus on nutrition and health high.

Over the last 2.5 years, over 80 children have been nourished back to health through the two DCCs.

SNEHA works closely with the Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) at Sion Hospital. Our Aahar Sakhis and the anganwadi workers refer cases of severe malnutrition to the NRC, where they are either followed up rigorously as outpatients or admitted for intensive care.

SNEHA's strength has been to encourage existing government systems to deliver better quality of care. Regular training sessions with the anganwadi workers have been conducted to develop technical skills that aid in early identification of signs and symptoms of malnutrition. Motivational sessions to encourage delivery of quality care have also been a focus area for trainings.

Impact:

Sakshi was a listless, underweight and sickly three-year-old when SNEHA's Aahar Sakhis (Community Health Volunteers) identified her as being severely malnourished. Third of four siblings with a single parent, she was left in the care of a well meaning but overworked aunt. Sakshi was enrolled in the day care centre run by SNEHA in partnership with the Integrated Child Development Services. After six months of care and carefully planned nutritious meals, which ensured that she got the right amount of calories and proteins, Sakshi gained weight and was back to being a cheerful, bonny child. Her aunt was counseled on the kind of food that could be cooked at home to ensure that Sakshi remains healthy. SNEHA's Aahar Sakhis continue to watch over Sakshi, making fortnightly home visits.

Sakshi was lucky to have had the benefit of an early intervention: many children go undetected. This leads them to grow up malnourished, stunted and unable to go through school, thus putting them at a disadvantage for their entire lives.

Sakshi's participation in the activities of the day care centre has increased manifold. The child, who was earlier very pale, is now active and energetic. Her illness episodes have decreased in frequency and her mother immediately visits the doctor in case of an illness.

Sakshi's turnaround is a source of pride for the SNEHA team for it embodies the cause we work for. Well nourished children leading healthy, productive lives.

SOCIAL UPLIFTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT FOR HEALTH ACTION
'SUADHA' had not registered with United Way of Mumbai previously so we never received any fund via SCMM.

Page Url :
http://www.unitedwaymumbai.org/ngo100_sneha.htm

Founded Year:

Cause category: Health

Our Supporters

• Nikhil Paruchuri