Tansa Valley, India—Recently, PRASAD Chikitsa’s medical and nutrition programs joined forces to identify and respond to health risks among children at four Day Care Centers because it was noticed that some of the children were not thriving, despite receiving meals through the Nutrition Program.
Among the 21 children identified, all but one needed additional vitamins and supplements. That one was three-year old Ankita. At the Anukampaa Health Center (AHC), the diagnostic team determined that Ankita had a serious heart ailment and would need surgery to save her life.
This little girl’s plight touched everyone’s heart. A PRASAD staff member visited Ankita’s home to help the family with the pre-surgery paperwork. As word spread, staff members from three other PRASAD programs gave blood on her behalf. The PRASAD Transport Team has already brought Ankita and her family to the hospital in Mumbai and, within a few days, Ankita will have her surgery.
As for the rest of the children, PRASAD gave them the vitamins and supplements that they needed, and provided their grateful parents with nutritional counseling.
This story shows how PRASAD Chikitsa is constantly serving the changing needs of the community. Without the original initiative, Ankita’s heart ailment would have remained undetected and her life would have been at risk. Now, she has hopes of living a normal and full life.
