Impact Stories

Heading- Medical and Nutritional assistance gave a new lease of life to toddler

Just before stepping into the area called Ganeshnagar, my colleague showed me a picture of Payal on a smartphone which was immediately taken after her birth and I was shocked to see it. She looked very pale. The body hardly had any flesh and seemed almost like a skeleton. While I was yet to ask on her initial medical condition, a 25-year-old Bhuri Parmar with a girl child on her arms welcomed us. Bhuri introduced her daughter as Payal and it was tough for my eyes to believe as there was a stark difference in her health.

A three-year-old Payal clad in shirt and shorts looked like healthy and a happy child. This made me wonder how did the turnaround happened. Bhuri, a tribal worker from Banaskantha district had delivered a premature girl child three years ago. She was born weak and had haemoglobin issues. She refused any food given to her. Payal’s situation was so critical that doctors had no hope for her. But she survived. Bhuri recalls, "She existed only on milk for two years. Each time she had water or food, she suffered from loose motions, gastric troubles or vomiting. This situation never helped her to gain weight. Meanwhile, lockdown hit in 2020. My husband, Khema works as a plumber. His earnings are uncertain. On one hand, work stopped while on the other hand Payal needed support. We didn't know how to go about it. Either we spend money on our food or get Payal treated."

She then adds, "The community leader of Ganeshnagar, Hargovanbhai sought help for Payal from the Mazdoor.co team members. Kind and gracious, they visited us with a child specialist. Their parent organization InfoAnalytica Foundation bore expenses for all her medical reports." The paediatrician, Dr Sunil Chand admits that she needed urgent treatment. “We saw that both parents were highly concerned for Payal. We noted that the mother is weak while Payal hardly had any food intake. So, it was decided to let her go through some tests such as Gastric Aspirate - an important test for the diagnosis of tuberculosis, prevalence of infection, blood reports etc. Tuberculosis was ruled out and no infections were found. It was also said that she could have hole in her heart but all her reports came normal. It was a sigh of relief. Even the test of parents were made to find out hereditary issues in Payal.” He further adds, “She was found malnourished and had the deficiency of vitamin and protein. We provided her with high protein milk and high protein food. We didn't bombard her with medicines of high vitamins. It was ensured she grows healthy without any side effects.”

Payal was admitted in LG hospital for a week and stayed in the Paediatric ICU ward for one and half days. All the expenses from medicines to her treatment were borne by InfoAnalytica Foundation Her mother Bhuri says graciously, "There is a lot of improvement in her health. I am utterly grateful to them. I can't imagine our life without their support. As far as Payal is concerned, she asks for food on her own now. She loves dal, rice, vegetables and milk. She avoid fruits. She has gained weight too. She has started speaking and sitting which appeared a far-fetched dream to us earlier. However, the only problem persists is she doesn't stand on her own feet yet."

To this, Dr Sunil whose efforts were instrumental in bringing Payal’s health back to normal explains that she is still malnourished. Malnourished mothers give birth to a malnourished children. Supplements have been provided to the mother to improve her health too. Condition of Payal is better but needs improvement. Medicines that give her stamina have been provided. For two years, she was bed-ridden. Hence, there is a need to work on her cognitive functions now. Regular follow-ups are made for Payal all free of cost. Massage is also advised on her feet. Payal has got a new life. She has been under the care of InfoAnalytica for the last one year. They are also provided cereal powder, medicines with nutritional supplements and ration kits. Payal doesn't like frocks. Fond of bangles and bindi on her forehead, she is a happy go lucky child. May God bless her.