Campaign Story
About the project
The Amirgarh Block of Banaskantha district in Gujarat has a tribal population of 9.11%. Malnutrition is widespread among the children and adolescents belonging to this tribal community. Also, 79% of children aged 6-59 months are anemic. The district faces inadequate facilities and infrastructure in anganwadi and government health centers, hindering effective health and nutrition services. The community lacks knowledge about child care, nutritious food practices, and the importance of nutrition for pregnant and lactating women. These gaps contribute to significant health and malnutrition issues for children, adolescents, and women in the area. Child marriage is also a significant issue here resulting girls to drop out from schools.
Making a difference
CRY America’s project in Banaskantha works towards facilitating health care access and nutrition enrichment of the children and women living in the 15 villages of the Amirgarh block. It aims to form mothers’ collectives and build their capacity on health and nutrition issues. Key activities include identifying pregnant and lactating women and ensuring Ante Natal Care and Post Natal Care. Another focus area is monitoring immunizations of children and referring severely underweight children to Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers (NRC). Moreover, the project also works toward collaborating with the health departments to improve service facilities and forming adolescent collectives and girls’ collectives to raise awareness about anemia, nutrition, and child marriage.
The way forward
● Conduct hemoglobin testing for 100 adolescent girls.
● Provide IFA tablets to 200 adolescent girls through AWCs.
● Conduct health and nutritional awareness programs across 15 villages.
● Organize monthly meetings with 15 adolescent groups on health and child marriage.
● Ensure the capacity building of 7 team members for a nutrition campaign.
● Distribute vitamin syrup to 17 children aged 0-5 years to reduce malnutrition.
● Provide support to 15 malnourished children and refer them to the NRC.
● Motivate and train communities for kitchen gardening practices across 15 villages.
Project Impact
15
mother groups attended capacity-building meetings on food demonstration.
62
sessions conducted for mothers on nutritional food and institutional deliveries.
122
mothers attended a community meeting on child care.
15
adolescent girls’ collectives formed with 150 girls sensitized on child marriage and health.
291
children aged 9-12 months received immunizations.
90
Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHNDs) organized for pregnant and lactating women, as well as adolescent girls.
25
mothers of Severely Underweight (SUW) and Moderately Underweight (MUW) children attended VHND.
230
lactating & pregnant women linked to maternity programs
160
adolescent girls and pregnant and lactating women attended VHND.
10
pregnant women registered in the 1st trimester at the Anganwadi Centers (AWCs).
90
pregnant women received two TT injections and IFA (Iron Folic Acid)
2
children were admitted to the NRC.
Last Year’s Approved Grant (April to Dec 2024) $8943
This year’s approved grant (January to December 2025):
