Preeti
Healing with Awareness: How Sampushti Helped Preeti Overcome Anemia and Skin Issues
Preeti, a 12-year-old student of Class 7 at Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls’ School, Kachhauna, belongs to a farming family. Her father works in the fields, while her mother manages the household.
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For weeks, Preeti struggled with severe itching and rashes on both hands, making daily tasks uncomfortable. Despite informing her parents, financial constraints kept them from seeking medical help.
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​Her condition came to light when an Anemia-Free Health Camp was organized at her school under the Sampushti project by Development Consortium (DC) in collaboration with HCL Foundation. During the hemoglobin test, her levels were found to be 10 g/dL, significantly lower than the normal range of 12-16 g/dL for adolescent girls.
She was prescribed Moringa and iron supplements to improve her condition, but upon returning home, her mother discouraged her from taking the medication, fearing they were harmful. As a result, Preeti stopped taking the supplements.
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Recognizing the urgency, the Sampushti team conducted a follow-up visit ten days later and discovered that Preeti had not taken her supplements. They immediately engaged with her school principal and her mother, explaining the importance of iron for her health. After much persuasion, her mother finally agreed.
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Additionally, the team urged her mother to consult a doctor for the persistent itching. A medical examination revealed that Preeti had "Anemia Rash," medically known as Pruritus, caused by iron deficiency. Low iron levels increase histamine secretion, leading to itching and skin irritation.
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With proper treatment, a medicated ointment, and regular intake of iron-rich foods and supplements, Preeti’s health improved. Over time, her itching subsided, and her hemoglobin levels increased to 13 g/dL.
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*Names have been changed to protect identity.
