Project Vatsalya

Campaign Story

About the project

The Datia district of Madhya Pradesh has a predominantly tribal population. Limited access to quality healthcare infrastructure, a shortage of skilled health workers, and a lack of awareness among community members about government health programs have led to poor nutritional outcomes for mothers and children. As a result, the region experiences higher rates of maternal and child mortality, and child morbidity.

Making a difference

CRY America’s Project Vatsalya focuses on improving healthcare access and providing nutritional support to women and children across 10 villages in Madhya Pradesh’s Datia district. Key interventions under this initiative include identifying high-risk pregnancies, promoting regular Ante-Natal Care (ANC) & Post Natal Care (PNC), ensuring institutional deliveries, organizing Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHND), and facilitating immunization for newborns. The project also runs awareness campaigns around sanitation and hygiene. Additionally, Project Vatsalya emphasizes the formation of Adolescent Girl Collectives and Mother’s Groups to raise awareness on menstrual hygiene and pregnancy care.

The way forward

● Assess 60 VNHDs to further strengthen VHSNC operations.
● Track 287 pregnant women, identify 149 high-risk pregnancy cases, and persuade them to avail at least 4 ANC checkups, take Iron Folic Acid (IFA) tablets, and ensure institutional delivery.
● Track all 49 newborns to ensure proper home and institutional care.
● Ensure full immunization of 191 children aged 0–1 year by collaborating with ASHA, AWW, and Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) workers.
● Organize 10 health camps to address anemia among adolescents, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
● Sensitize 27 frontline workers, including ASHA, AWW, and ANMs, as well as 241 adolescent girls on WASH practices.

Project Impact

252

Pregnant and lactating women availed ANC and PNC check-ups

37

Institutional deliveries ensured

379

Women, children, and adolescents availed health and nutrition services on VHND

737

Community members sensitized on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and menstrual hygiene management

115

Children aged 0–1 year completely immunized

352

Adolescent girls attended health camps

43

Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) sensitized on managing high-risk pregnancy issues

25

Moderately Underweight (MUW) and Severely Underweight (SUW) children identified

310

Members engaged in Children’s Collectives, Adolescent Girls’ Collectives, and Mothers’ Groups

275

Children aged 6–36 months registered with AWC and are receiving their Take Home Ration (THR)

Last year’s disbursed grant for Jan 24 to Dec 24: $17,867

This year’s approved budget for Jan 25 to Dec 25

Health$28,534

Administration$5,181

Total Budget$33,715

Neetu’s path from risk to recovery

Neetu, a 24-year-old woman was hesitant to share the news of her pregnancy at home due to her husband’s struggle with alcoholism. Besides this, her family heavily relied on untrained, non-professional doctors which could pose a serious risk to her pregnancy care.

When the CRY America project team learned that Neetu was six months pregnant and had not yet registered at the local Primary Health Centre, they immediately intervened. The team educated Neetu on the importance of Antenatal Care (ANC) and encouraged her to register herself in the Anganwadi Center (AWC).

During her first ANC check-up at the Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Day (VHSND), Neetu was diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy due to critically low haemoglobin levels of just 5.9 HB. The frontline workers referred her to the district hospital for an urgent blood transfusion. However, due to poor infrastructure and lack of proper arrangements, she was unable to receive timely care.

Determined to ensure Neetu received the treatment she needed, the project team escalated her case to the District Maternal Health Officer. With persistent efforts, they succeeded in arranging one free unit of blood for her transfusion. Once she was out of immediate danger, Neetu began attending regular transfusion sessions and was prescribed Iron Folic Acid (IFA) tablets to boost her haemoglobin levels.

With continuous care and follow-up by frontline workers, Neetu’s condition steadily improved. To ensure she remained healthy, the project team involved local community stakeholders to counsel her family on the importance of maternal nutrition and dietary care. They also linked the family to better food practices and ensured that Neetu received Take Home Rations (THR) from the local Anganwadi Centre (AWC).

With the support of the project team and frontline health workers, Neetu successfully recovered from her high-risk pregnancy and leads a healthy life today.

Project Photo Gallery