Hi everyone
I hope you are travelling well in these strange and wondrous times. After being in lockdown for six months and then starting to meet villagers in ones or twos, our program is now picking up. Our staff members assure us that there is very little coronavirus in the rural area where they work. You may remember that last year in November, when we were visiting the program, we enabled the staff to buy a smart phone each. Using the smart phone has been a bit of a learning curve for them all, however, the teachers are mostly young enough and are very capable now. The older Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) staff have grown up daughters, daughters in law or sons to help them out. They have been using the smart phones to check in every day with their attendance. There have been some technical issues around that and we are working on it. We also have formed various WhatsApp groups for staff and us and this November, I requested of each RCH staff member to send one report per month about one person in their groups with a photo. In India these are called success stories. Following are the reports that have been sent by our staff members in their own words. We have also given them some coaching around clear close-up photos and I think they’re doing really well don’t you? Enjoy reading and please note: we are totally hitting the millennium goals of keeping girls in school, marrying the girls later, informing couples about family planning and encouraging them to restrict their families to 2 or 3 children. You can be very proud that you are supporting a program like this which is empowering women over their bodies and choices and is having a huge impact on so many people‘s lives and also on the environment. Thank you for your support Staff member Renu sent us the following: 'Neha, who is 10, has a 4 year old sister. Her father passed away earlier this year. At that time, Neha completely gave up her school studies. She suffered emotionally and became physically weak. When I went to her town of Kajrela Gaon, Neha's mother used to come to the meetings. She told me of her troubles there. She said that after the passing away of her father, Neha’s future is destroyed. She said that Neha was always depressed and used to cry all the time. I encouraged her come to the meetings regularly. I explained that she should try to get out of her grief and focus on the education of her children. Neha's mother said, "I am only a woman and my options are limited after the passing away of my husband." She also said she had financial limitations, so she was planning to get Neha married within 2 or 3 years. Then I explained to her that she is not thinking straight because of her grief. Women can do whatever they want in this day and age. I told her “You have a responsibility to think about her future as much as her father did.” So after frequent convincing, she agreed. Today Neha goes to school and is in 5th grade. She has become more emotionally stable and is also looking after her health and cleanliness. She even consoles and advises her mother. I have asked Neha’s mother to delay Neha's marriage until she turns 18 (as is our organisation's policy) as marriage is physically and mentally challenging. Neha Neha's mother has agreed to do this. Neha Dhanmati Kumari met our staff member, Premlata, who has sent us the following: Dhanmati who is 19, has completed year ten and lives with her husband in their village. Dhanmanti was initially reluctant to come to the married women’s meetings. After much persuasion over some time, she agreed. In the meetings I told her about cycles of menstruation and possibilities of contraception. I suggested that she should not have a child for at least 3 years as she needs to be strong and there is a possibility of anemia if she is not eating a good diet and taking care of herself. Since her husband lives in the village and is not now working elsewhere, she inquired about how to get contraceptive methods for her and her husband. I advised that the couple should use condoms and she can also have Mala D tablets to avoid pregnancy. She listened carefully to all the suggestions. She has agreed to use the contraceptives and not to have a child for at least 3 years from now. Dhanmatti Kumari Anil Pathak, our staff member is charged with the important task of helping the men to see the value of family planning and to put the health of their wives ahead of their fear of losing their strength or virility if they have a vasectomy. He sent the following: The name of the village is Maha Dev Pur. The name of one of the men is Purushottam Kumar. He is 35 years old. He has completed year 10. His wife's name is Mamta Kumari, aged 32 years. Purushottam Kumar and his wife have been involved in couple meetings for a long time. They have two sons, the first son is 10 years old and the younger is 2 years old. They told me "we do not want to have any more children." I told them "a small family is a happy family. A small family is easier to raise financially." I explained to him about the procedure of having a vasectomy. I told them that it is much simpler than a female tubal ligation. He agreed to go ahead and have the vasectomy. Success! Purushottam Kumar Anil also sent this report: Seventeen year old Mandeep Kumar has been coming to the adolescent boys group meetings for almost 8 months (with a break during the Covid lockdown). Before coming to the meetings, he had stopped studying and he was loitering around the village aimlessly. After he started coming to the meetings, he brought about changes in his life. He realised the importance of education. He started his studies again and is preparing for his year 12 exams. He is studying with full dedication. After coming to the meetings he realised that a good education is as important in one's life as good health. Mandeep Staff member Srimanti sent the following: Pinky Kumari is 20 years. Her husband Summit Kumar is 22 years. I told Pinky Kumari when she was pregnant she should have regular check ups and should take iron/calcium tablets and eat healthy food. I suggested for a safe delivery she should go to a good hospital. Pinky's mother-in-law said that in the hospital, the doctors do a big operation to earn money, even on those women who can have a normal delivery. I explained that this is not true. The delivery should be done in the hospital so that both mother and child are safe. Listening to my words. Pinky’s mother-in-law took her to Guraru hospital for safe delivery. A girl was born with a normal delivery. Mother and child are both healthy. The whole family is happy. Pinky and baby Jitanpur Chandradev Manjhi is 38 years, and his wife is 35 years. He got married at the age of 15 and has 4 children. The eldest child is a 17 year old girl. Staff member Ashok recounts: Through the meetings I have had with him over the past 5 years, he got information about contraception. He then received condoms and contraceptive medicines from the government hospital. For the last 5 years he has not had any more children. Because of our discussions he has also realised the value of waiting to arrange a marriage for his oldest daughter as it is better for her. He has decided to get his daughter married only after she turns 19. Jitanpur Sonam Kumari, age 15, has 4 sisters and 1 brother. 'Sonam is a very sensible girl, she comes to all the adolescent girls’ meetings and she pays attention,' says our staff member Rita. 'One day at a meeting she started crying and then she vomited. I asked her what had happened, then she said that when she has her period, she has a lot of stomach pain and vomiting. I talked to Sonam's mother and suggested she take Sonam to the doctor to receive some medicine for this. She replied it is common to have cramps and vomiting during the time of menstruation. I said it should not be this severe and may cause harm in the future., Then she said that at this time there is a lack of money. I said to her that I will help you to pay the doctor. Sonam's mother got the medicine and later when I talked to Sonam, she said she is fine now.' Sonam Rinku Kumari, 25 years and Pankaj Kumar 28 years live in Rauna village. They have one child, a daughter who is 8 months old. Staff member Madhuri wrote: I explained to Rinku and her mother-in-law that there is a contraceptive injection. After taking advice from a good doctor, Rinku should have this injection or take contraceptive medicine so as not to become pregnant again very soon. Rinku’s mother in law said ‘I will not allow this because Rinku might never have another child.’ So I told her, ‘if Rinku doesn’t have a three year gap between her children then she can be weak (because of anemia), her first child can be weak, through lack of attention and the next child will also have the possibility of being born weak and suffering from disease. So, take the right decision at the right time so that both your daughter in law and her children are healthy. A healthy family is a happy family.’ After I explained all this, Rinku starteded to use contraception with her mother-in-law’s approval. Rinku and baby I hope you enjoyed these reports from our staff. Next time we will have some reports from the teachers about the Literacy Centre students. If you don't already donate, please consider doing so at www.weiv-india.org. Safe and happy festive season and may 2021 bring peace and health to you all and our beautiful planet and its inhabitants. Namaste from Wendy and Graeme |
||||||
|
||||||
|