19,807
families reached
(2016-2020)
Addressing health and nutrition challenges among mothers and children through a continuum of care approach
Mumbai (Govandi, Mankhurd)
We believe that integrated delivery of health interventions across the life-cycle can address poor health in low-resource areas. Our community centres offer various health, nutrition and safety services to women and children through a single, community-level access point.
These centres serve as a base for our staff to interface regularly with the community to influence their health seeking behaviour through home-visits, community events and workshops on topics related to maternal & child health and nutrition as well as domestic violence.
families reached
(2016-2020)
increase in minimum diet diversity
in pregnant and lactating women
(2016-2020)
increase in early registration of pregnancies
through ICDS referrals
(2016-2020)
It can be overwhelming for mothers to learn about and keep track of best practices in pregnancy-related activities. We have learned that small interventions like raising awareness of services and regular health follow-ups can improve health outcomes for both mother and child.
Nishi*, a first-time pregnant mother was moderately anaemic when a SNEHA Community Organiser (CO) first evaluated her health reports. The CO introduced Nishi to a government health worker, who prescribed Nishi iron supplements and iron rich foods. They continued to converse with Nishi through her pregnancy and helped her access the regular government supplied food rations. Nishi’s iron levels slowly normalized.
Nishi delivered normally, but her baby was underweight.
She received support in accessing immunisations, iron supplements, and take-home government rations for mothers and infants.
The CO and government health worker visited her weekly to monitor breastfeeding and to look out for signs of postnatal dangers. The support proved significant as the infant gained the requisite weight.
*Name changed