Bring Light: Healthier Children in Punjab's Slums

PROJECT

Healthier Children in Punjab's Slums

Developing Indigenous Resources

Help families in an Indian slum keep their children healthier. Preventable illnesses took a heavy toll on the poor and uneducated residents of Janta Colony, a slum of Chandigarh, India. With the help of Community Health Promoters trained by DIR, local people are developing the knowledge and skills to improve their own conditions. By learning to prepare nutritious foods, getting their children vaccinated, cleaning up trash dumps, and obtaining health and sanitation services, Janta families and DIR have cut the childhood death rate nearly in half. $3800 will enable DIR to train one Health Promoter to work with 200 families for one year.

Number of Donations: 7 | Posted about 1 year ago


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19% Raised

Target: $3,800.00
Raised so far: $750.00

The Charity

Developing Indigenous Resources

Community soutions for health and education in India and Vietnam

Bring Light Activity

7 Donors

1 Project since August, 2008

1 Active Project since October, 2008

Charity Info

Based in: El Cerrito, California

Year founded: 2005

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Project Info

In close proximity to Chandigarh--one of India’s best-planned cities--are crowded slums with deplorable health conditions. These are exacerbated by the lack of health care and other government services. DIR (Developing Indigenous Resources) trains Health Promoters (who are all slum residents) to share newly-gained knowledge and skills with their neighbors. While these activities are improving the health of everyone, their greatest impact is upon infant and childbirth-related health. In just three years, the death rate among young children has fallen to less than 3%, while India’s national average is 5.7%. Where DIR is active, infant mortality and child malnutrition have been steeply reduced at extremely low cost.
Each Health Promoter works full time, in partnership with neighborhood committees, to
(1)examine and assess the nutritional status of each child under the age of five, obtaining medical attention as necessary;
(2)conduct practical in-home demonstrations of cooking low-cost nutritious meals;
(3)ensure that every child is immunized against TB, Measles, Diphtheria, Polio, Tetanus, Pertussis and Hepatitis-B
(4)ensure that pregnant women obtain prenatal and post-partum care and have deficiencies met;
(5)ensure adults can make home-made ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) and use it appropriately;
(6)address local environmental problems such as the hazards of open sewers, impure water, inappropriate waste disposal, etc.
DIR’s community-based approach has proven effective in Pakistan as well as India. $3,800 provides funding for daily health training, supervision and salary for one Health Promoter for one year.