A brawl with malnutrition has finally come to an end. Now Nandini is enjoying her newly gifted life from Sabal.

Couple of months ago in July 2018 Hon’ble Governor (MP) Shri. Anandiben Patel visited Khandwa and expressed her concern toward the chronic malnutrition among the children. She interacted with various grassroots level NGOs and funding agencies and motivated for child adoption. In this regard, Caritas India and its Sabal partners (KDSS & Spandan) staff decided to adopt malnourished children and provide extended nutrition support to the children.

18 months old Nandani was adopted by Rakesh Karole, Sabal-NHW. When he visited Nandani’s house to conduct the initial profiling of the child he found that the child was extremely malnourished with a weight of 5.9KG. When he further investigated the situation he found that the family is very poor and cannot afford the expenses of medical aid. Since the mother was suffering from mental illness; the child was taken care of by the grandparents. Even the family did not visit the Anganwadi to avail the entitlements for the children due to the distance from their house.

Mr. Rakesh tried to convince the father to get the child admitted to the hospital and took the child and mother to district hospital Khandwa. Considering the seriousness of the illness, the doctor referred the child case to Indore for advance treatment as he announced that there is little hope that the child will be saved.

At night 11.30PM Rakesh got Nandini and her mother transferred to Indore Government Hospital. During the transfer Rakesh observed that Nandini is struggling with breathing problem. He felt that 4 hours travel will put Nandini’s life on stake, so he demanded the hospital concerned staff to put her on ventilator during the travel which was refused by the staff. But Rakesh was stern enough on his decision and directly went and persuaded the doctor in-charge and demanded for the ventilator. Finally, the doctor recommended for the equipment and the child was taken safely. “Hum garib log bolte toh hospital wale nahi mante; woh Rakesh bhaiya ne baat kiya toh unhone oxygen cylinder laga diya; warna Nandi surakshit nahi pahuch pati bade hospital” (The hospital staff wouldn’t have listened to plea of poor; it was because of Rakesh that they had to put the oxygen cylinder; else Nandani won’t have reached safely to the bigger hospital) – she (child’s mother) gasped with tears in her eyes.

During the 14 days of treatment, Rakesh and Fr. Jayan Alex (Director – KDSS) would continuously in contact with the child health through phone and personal visits. The child showed a great improvement in health. During the time of discharge the child weight 7.1KG and MUAC 12.5.

“Rakesh bhaiya har 15 din me akar Nandani ko dekhte hai aur khudse uske liye phal and sattu bhi late hai; Sabal ko bahut dhanyawad” (Rakesh  visits Nandani every 15 days and also brings fruits and sattu powder for her; thanks to Sabal) – her mother happily expressed.