Kavita
"A Change In Diet Lead To A Change In Life."
Kavita aged 17 lives in Kachhauna, a small village in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh. Her father runs a grocery shop, and her mother is a homemaker. She is often requiring her to take leave from school due to her health problems. As a 12th-grade student this puts a lot of pressure on her to succeed academically amidst her struggles.
During a pre-health camp conducted by Sampushti, Development Consortium’s health and nutrition initiative, Kavita was screened and her hemoglobin levels were 12.1, which falls within the normal range. Kavita mentioned that she struggles to remember things for long periods, experiences significant pain in her legs, and finds it difficult to get out of bed during menstruation.
After the camp, she received continuous counseling which placed emphasis on consuming iron-rich vegetables such as spinach, iron tablets, and moringa. Follow-ups were conducted by Sampushti sathis ( community health workers) at her school. Along with other adolescent girls, she was made aware of the importance of iron.
Three months later, during a post-health camp at her school, Kavita was re-screened. Her hemoglobin had increased to 13.5.
When we spoke to Kavita's mother and asked if she noticed any changes in her daughter, Kavita’s mother told us that there are now many visible changes in her daughter. Her appetite increases and she also talks extensively about what nutrients they contain, studies diligently, has become more energetic, and also does a lot of work.
The mother daughter duo is thankful to Sampushti saathis for their continued guidance, support and knowledge. She secured the third rank in Hardoi District in her class 12 board exams. Kavita and her mother attribute this success to the Sampushti program. To know more about the program - click here.
*Names have been changed in the story to protect the identity.
