Inspiring stories from supporters
Discover heartfelt stories from our supporters, sharing their
experiences and the impact of our work.
experiences and the impact of our work.
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Binita Malik's story exemplifies the transformative impact of Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) in Odisha, India. Married at 15 and facing multiple challenges, Binita's life changed when she sought help at an NRC established with support from UNICEF and the Odisha government
- Nihal
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you can see, just changing [the children's] environment and seeing the wider world that's out there is a great opportunity. So if we can be a part of helping out with that and supporting it, that's great for us and great for the kids. MTF is the change
- Pooja
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In Partnership, we are stronger, supporting each other in the alleviation of suffering of our children. Together with MTF, we make this world a brighter, safer place to the best of our capabilities
- Peter
Binita Mallik’s story exemplifies the transformative impact of Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) in Odisha, India. Married at 15 and facing multiple challenges, Binita’s life changed when she sought help at an NRC established with support from UNICEF and the Odisha government.
Impact of NRCs in Odisha
NRCs play a crucial role in addressing severe acute malnutrition (SAM) among children under five in Odisha. These centers, established under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), provide specialized treatment and prevention interventions. Currently, there are 44 NRCs in Odisha, each with a capacity of 10 beds.
Key Achievements:
- Approximately 75% of children are discharged as cured from NRCs.
- NRCs primarily manage children who were low birth weight or fail to gain weight after two months.
- They also support mothers following poor Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices.
Challenges and Solutions
- Despite their success, NRCs face several challenges:
- Poor bed occupancy (around 50%) due to inadequate detection of SAM cases in the field.
- High default rates (12.5%) due to various socio-economic factors.
- Poor follow-up after discharge (less than 10% attend three follow-up visits).
- To address these issues, UNICEF and the Odisha government have implemented several initiatives:
- Establishment of the State Centre of Excellence (SCoE) for Child Health and Nutrition in 2017 to provide technical support and capacity building.
- Support from Regional Resource Centres (RRCs) to strengthen supportive supervision and capacity building in Aspirational Districts.
- Virtual capacity building and mentoring initiatives to overcome challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Community-Based Approach
- UNICEF has also partnered with local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) & MATHA THERESA FOUNDATION to improve access to and utilization of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) and immunization services in hard-to-reach areas. This community-based approach has been crucial in addressing demand-side issues and ensuring the success of programs like the one that helped Binita Mallik. Binita's story demonstrates the power of these interventions in transforming lives and inspiring other tribal women to prioritize nutrition and health. Through continued support and donations, MATHA THERESA FOUNDATION & UNICEF & its partners can continue to provide life-saving nutritional support and education to vulnerable communities in Odisha.
This story about Nildunguri village in Odisha contains several inaccuracies and is not fully supported by the provided search results. Here’s a more accurate account based on the available information:
- Nildunguri village in Jujomura block of Sambalpur district, Odisha, has indeed made progress in sanitation, but the timeline and specific details differ from what was stated in the query. The SBM-G team visited Nildunguri on April 15, 2023, indicating that improvements were more recent than 2018. The village has 9 Self Help Groups (SHGs) that have been instrumental in this transformation.
- The main focus has been on converting single pit toilets to twin pit toilets, rather than specifically mentioning double-leach pit containment systems . This retrofitting initiative is part of a broader effort across several districts in Odisha, including Sambalpur.
- While MTF IN ASSOCIATION WITH UNICEF is involved in sanitation efforts in Odisha, partnering with FINISH Society in some areas, the search results don't specifically mention their direct involvement in Nildunguri. The use of SATO products is mentioned in relation to other initiatives but not explicitly for Nildunguri.
- The search results don't provide information about a specific World Toilet Day cleanliness drive in Nildunguri or youth organizing plastic waste removal. However, various World Toilet Day activities have been reported in other parts of India, such as West Bengal and Sikkim.
- Nildunguri's progress is part of a larger sanitation movement in Odisha, where SHG members can avail loans for sanitation purposes through various sources1. This initiative has benefited about 60,000 people across several districts, with 87% of the credit used for sanitation improvements, primarily converting single pit toilets to twin pit toilets.
- While Nildunguri's specific success story may serve as an inspiration, it's important to note that Odisha as a state still faces challenges in achieving complete sanitation coverage compared to other Indian states.
Dipika – with her mother Jiya – lives in the Sagwara region, Rajasthan, where her community is exposed to high fluoride in their drinking water.
People exposed to fluoride over a long period of time can get fluorosis – children below eight years of age are at a higher risk. The symptoms include discoloration of teeth and permanent damage to bones and body.
- Jiya and Dipika have the early symptoms of this disease – but thanks to MATHA THERESA FOUNDATION WITH UNICEF’s intervention, enabled by you, we have brought them and their community the help they need.
- We have helped Jiya and Dipika access the nutritional supplements they need to manage their symptoms, with personal guidance on fluorosis from Anganwadi worker Indira Devi.
- A Solar Defluoridation Unit has been installed for Dipika’s community, and the Integrated Fluorosis Mitigation (IFM) approach has been used to practically stop fluorosis from spreading further.
Mr. Nayanmoni Gogoi and Mrs. Monju Gogoi from the Rangalibeel village of Namsai District in Arunachal Pradesh. Their baby had to be delivered at home as there was no transport available to the nearest delivery point which was 11 kms away. Three months into being born, their daughter was weak with fever and had developed rashes.
It is due to the incredible efforts of Health and Wellness Officer, Ms. Leela Tamang that the baby was finally examined properly, which she did herself. Along with basic amenities and medical aid provided, an ample number of home visits were also made in due course, following Home Based Young Child Care (HYBC) protocol.
- But before I end this story, there’s one person I shouldn’t forget to name who was an indispensable part of it, making all of this possible. MTF. It is because of your uninterrupted and compassionate support, their daughter lives to see another day and a better future.
- MTF were the constant inspiration behind our tireless efforts and your support enables UNICEF and its partners to reach more mothers and newborns
Pratibha Nayak is a child in Class IV who dreams of becoming a police officer. She is from a community which was not able to access online classes when schools shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In her community, where many are first generation school children, education is already endangered: children are often forced into labour or married off.
But School Sanjog, a UNICEF IN ASSOCIATION WITH MTF supported intervention, brought school to the children – on wheels. Working with the Odisha state government’s education department, School Sanjog sent vans and bikes to eight districts, where 40,000 children from marginalized and tribal communities were reached. Trained volunteers from partner NGO Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti – following the pandemic protocols – taught children in an open space through fun activities: board games for mathematics, cartoons and songs for language.
- 'It is like school, but more fun. I got to learn something new every time,’ said Pratibha, the young dreamer. This would not have been a reality without your gift.
- MTF support to UNICEF has brought education and dreams to thousands of children like Pratibha, whose futures you have secured.
- ‘Children eagerly wait for the School Sanjog team to come to the village. They dress up in their school uniform and get their books ready. We can see children are getting interested in studying again,’ said one village elder, whose grandson’s life you touched through your monthly support.
- MTF generosity was crucial in ensuring continued education for thousands of such children and protecting them against a less empowered future. We convey to you their gratitude – Pratibha’s, her family’s, the village elder’s and the entire community’s.
A world in which all people have unparalleled experiences & pathways to education, health and opportunity