A recently conducted Community Monitoring process in Bhalujhola village of Boipariguda block in Koraput district reveals that the beneficiaries of its Anganwadi Centre, like pregnant women and lactating mothers have hardly attended the Village Health & Nutrition Day (VHND). Surprisingly, the assessment further dug out that VHND – popularly known as MAMATA Diwas, has ever been organized in this particular village.  The beneficiaries were deprived of health check-ups; unable to get the benefit of immunization; unaware about proper care and check-ups during the ante-natal and post-natal period; counseling services on birth spacing & intake of balanced diet during pregnancy, etc. The VHND, as an important tool, promises to be an effective platform for interfacing between the community and the health system and to provide first-contact primary health care. Also, VHND has to be organized once every month, preferably on a Wednesday or Friday for ensuring uniformity across the country.

The AWC of Bhalujhola village comes under Gupteswar Panchayat of Boipariguda Block which serves around 40 beneficiaries. Out of 40 beneficiaries, there are 3 pregnant women, 10 adolescent girls, 4 lactating mothers, 7 children under the age group between 6 months – 3 years and 16 children under the age group of 3 years to 6 years.

As part of the community monitoring of basic health services, facilitated by CYSD, both service providers i.e. ASHA, AWW and service users, like pregnant women and lactating mothers were interacted separately. While digging out the issue in detail, it was found that the beneficiary pregnant women and lactating mothers had neither participated in any VHND nor the event was organized in this particular village. The event was being organized by the concerned ANM in nearby Chadhipani village combining Bhalujhola village. Chadhipani village is located at a distance of 2-3 kms from Bhalujhola because of which the pregnant women and lactating mothers with their infants did not show interest to get involved in VHND. Even the Aaganwadi Worker of Bhalujhola was reluctant to accompany the pregnant women and children to Chadhipani for participation in VHND as she had to run the AWC. Besides, she always remained overburden due to non-deployment of a helper in her Centre. In absence of holding VHND, the consequences the mothers had to bear were manifold.

This issue was taken up as priority by the community during an interface organized between the service provider and the service users in Bhalujhola. A clear plan of action was developed to resolve the issue. The Aaganwadi Worker took the responsibility to present the case before the concerned ANM and request her to conduct monthly VHND in Bhalujhola. Mothers were also joined the AWW to persuade the ANM for organizing VHND at their own village.

After rounds of discussion with the concerned ANM, she agreed to conduct VHND in Bhalujhola. Since December 2019, the VHND has been organized at the Aaganwadi Centre of Bhalujhola. Beneficiaries are enthusiastically and consciously attending the VHND sessions on a regular basis and getting the required services hassle free. Moreover, the concerned ANM has committed to continue her support and cooperation in organizing the VHND in future too.

“It was too difficult for us to walk nearly 3 kms to attend the MAMATA Diwas at Chandipani. So we rarely attended it. Now, ANM Didi is convinced and organizing MAMATA Diwas in our village in every month. It has become priority for us to attend it and get the benefit of health check-ups during pregnancy”, said a 23 years old pregnant mother.  (Mother’s Name please.)