CHAMPION 2 | Mother and Child Health. In Reruwa Khurd village, timely counselling and community engagement helped Ranu Dahiya access antenatal care, safe delivery support, and postnatal guidance, improving outcomes for both mother and child.
Ranu Dahiya, a 21-year-old woman from Reruwa Khurd village in Satna District, lived in a community where institutional healthcare services were often overlooked despite physical accessibility. Although the village is located just 22 km from Satna town with good road connectivity, deep-rooted beliefs and lack of awareness led most families to rely on home-based care, especially during pregnancy.
During her second pregnancy, Ranu and her family initially refused health check-ups, believing that she was healthy and did not require medical attention. Most deliveries in the village were conducted at home, and counselling services were rarely accessed.
Recognizing this gap, the PLA (Participatory Learning and Action) team engaged with Ranu’s family and community members. With support from neighbours who had already benefited from the services, the team was able to build trust and encourage her to register under the Fixed Day Services (FDS) program.
Ranu began attending regular check-ups, including monitoring of hemoglobin levels, blood pressure, weight, and overall health. She also participated in PLA sessions, where she received guidance on nutrition, safe pregnancy practices, breastfeeding, and newborn care.
On 19 December 2019, Ranu delivered a healthy baby through a normal delivery. Both mother and child remained healthy, and she continued to receive postnatal care, including counselling on breastfeeding, nutrition, and newborn warmth practices such as Kangaroo Mother Care.
Over time, her baby showed healthy growth, and Ranu regained her strength. More importantly, her experience influenced other women in the village to seek healthcare services, gradually changing community perceptions.
Ranu’s story shows how awareness, trust-building, and timely maternal health services can protect both mothers and newborns. Your support helps extend safe pregnancy, delivery, and postnatal care to more families who need it most.
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