A new healthy generation!

I noticed this wall poster  during my recent visit, prominently displayed in most parts of the Christian Institute of Health Science and Research, Dimapur in connection with health awareness message. 

I was then reminded of a scene I saw thirty five years back in a village, near Sevagram, Wardha, when some of us were involved in containing a Measles epidemic that was devastating the lives of children.

Outside a hut, a mother was seated with her infant feeding from her breast, while she was trying to make dry 'roti' on an open coal fire with her spare hand. Her two children were sitting next to the fire, one with skin looking brawny and the other having active rash of Measles. Both of them ate with much difficulty small portions of the roti. It was already dusk and cold and her husband had not returned from his work. The mother was waiting for her husband to come with some vegetables for her to cook for the evening meal. 

I found her helpless and resigned to the unfortunate circumstances of poverty, lack of health care access, poor winter clothing for her or her children and dependence on her husband's daily wages to feed the family.

Now thirty five years later, women and children have access to at least fifteen direct health and welfare support and another fifteen indirect benefits from the central and state governments. The focus on women, children and girl children has yielded phenomenal returns. Not that poverty or malnutrition has vanished, but there is a pro-active attitude towards the well being of women and children.

The moral and social thermostat of any nation can be measured by different standards- one standard, according to me, is how a nation values women and children!

I witnessed something of this caring attitude when we used to worship at the St. Andrews Church, Chennai. The Church had a day care centre for children from the slums close by and a women's self employment programme by training them in trade related skills.  

We are making progress, although at a slow pace!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)