By Dr. Ashish Satav | President , MAHAN trust
MAHAN (Meditation, AIDS, Health, Addiction, Nutrition) is a non-government organization established in 1998 to improve health care in Melghat region. MAHAN was touched by Gandhian teaching that “youths should go to the villages to serve as real India is in villages”. Melghat is the hilly forest area in the beautiful Satpuda mountain ranges. Population is 300,000 & 75% of them are tribal. Korku is the major tribe of Melghat. Most of the tribal (>90 %) are farmers or laborer, living below poverty line (>80%) & very hard life in huts (>90%) mostly without electricity & illiterate (>50%). Medical facilities are grossly inadequate in Melghat as compared to rest of Maharashtra. Due to lack of proper medical facilities & superstitions, tribal goes to traditional faith healers/quacks (pujari & bhumkas) for treatment of illness. Skin is burnt with red hot iron rod for reducing pain known as Damma. This lead to very high under 5 children mortality (>100 per 1000 live births) especially Malnutrition related deaths and very high mortality in age group (16-60 years) & maternal mortality. Moved by such things, we started the project in Melghat in November 1997. MAHAN Trust has dedicated its work to reduce malnutrition and mortality among under-five children, women and economically productive age group through various programs like HBCC, MCPEPAG and SAMMAN. Below is a snapshot of our achievements in these projects aided by our generous donors.
SAMMAN (Community based Management for Severely Malnourished Children)Aim of the Project
To reduce prevalence and death of severe malnutrition in under 5 children (SMC) (SUW & SAM) using local therapeutic food (LTF) distributed by Village Health Workers (VHWs).
Activities and Impact (32 Villages)
Total under 5 children measured
2604
Total Total severely malnourished children treated =SMCs treated in SAMMAN
280
Case fatality rate (CFR) of Treated SMC
0
Case fatality rate (CFR) of overall SMC
1=0.36%
There was not a single death amongst treated SMCs and hence we could achieve WHO target of CFR of <4%.
Success STORY
Tribal girl, age 1 year 6 Months from Tarubanda village was SUW-MAM (on 14.1.2019, her weight was 6.460 kg & height was 70 cm). We started LTF to her from 14.1.2019 and on 21/04/2019, her weight and height was 7.220 Kg and 71.5 cm respectively. In very few days, she gained good weight with the support of LTF and Medicines. Now she is out of severe malnutrition.
HBCC (HOME-BASED CHILD-CARE Program)
Aim of the Project
To reduce under 5 children mortality rate and prevalence of malnutrition.
No. of 0-5 years patients treated by VHWs: -1304
Number of deaths
Under 5 Mortality rate =64.2
Success STORY
Tribal girl, age 8 months from Borikheda village, had cough, cold , indrawing of chest and her respiration rate was 56/min (from 20-04-2019). So VHW of the village diagnosed her as case of Pneumonia and gave her treatment in the form of Syrup Paracetamol. & tablet Amoxicillin for 7 days. Medical Supervisor visited her on 27-04-2019, when the baby was well.
MCPEPAG (Mortality control program for economically productive age group, 16-60 years)
Aim of the Project
To reduce number of deaths in 16-60 years age group from 32 villages.
Activities and Impact
This program involves treatment of patients suffering from hypertension, malaria, diarrhea, asthma and referral of patients of TB, heart diseases, anemia, etc. to hospital.
Intervention Area
Impact achieved
Total number of Patients benefitted= 1932
Total number of deaths=8
Age specific mortality rate=206.2 (Target achieved)
Success story:-
Tribal male, age 36 year from Ghota Village, had complaint of watery stool 4-5 episodes in a day & stomach pain (from 20/05/2019). So VHW of the village diagnosed her as a case of diarrhea and treated him with Tablet Norflox & ORS for 3 days. After 3 days VHW and Medical supervisor visited him, when he was cured.
Total Behavior change communication beneficiaries in 32 Villages=10044
Hospital report:-
Number of patient treated in OPD: Hospital care Beneficiaries (OPD)= 1973 .
Number of Patients treated in Intensive Care Unit and wards: -
Total Hospital Inpatient Beneficiaries (IPD)=223
Critical Care Beneficiaries (ICU)= 129
Success Story
Tribal, 3 months male child R/o Duni having Pneumonia with Respiratory Distress was brought to our hospital in critical condition, on 10th June 2019 at 5 pm. He was treated with Iv fluid, antibiotic, Paracetamol, Oxygen supplementation, nebulization & supportive care. He was relieved well till next morning. He was well throughout the day. He was discharged & was followed up at home. He became absolutely well in next 5 days.
Expenses(INR)
= Rs.25,44,400/-
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