Work with Anganwadis (Government Child Care Centres)
Over the years of APSA’s work with urban poor slums, in particular women, it was seen that women in particular neglect their health as neither they nor their families see it as a priority for themselves as a result of which, children are born malnourished. Further, despite availability of government and private hospitals, many urban poor families have their babies at home. This adversely impacts the health and well-being of children as such families don’t have the necessary documentation to enrol their children in pre-schools and later in regular schools, losing out on benefits and schemes offered under these education systems.
APSA therefore began working with some 50 anganwadis (government-run child care centres) in its working areas in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The objective of this was to create awareness among pregnant women and new mothers on healthcare and related activities, promote institutional deliveries among the urban poor, and provide access for women and children to healthcare services in anganwadis, particularly for adolescent girls. APSA’s activities include helping pregnant women and mothers access information on pregnancy, birth preparedness, infant care and health services in anganwadis, enhancing knowledge on HIV & AIDS, strengthening community interventions to promote universal immunization for children until 1 year of age, and motivating adolescents, in particular girls, to seek professional advice and support to address issues of sexual health, adolescent problems, career guidance and other issues.
Some of APSA’s interventions under this project include organizing free cervical cancer screening camps for women in partnership with local hospitals, information to youth on government Yuva Clinics (Youth Information Centres) to address physical health/ RSH issues or stress related to academics or relationships and lifeskills and adolescent health training to girls. APSA also organizes events to coincide with internationally important days such as World Immunization Day or World Breastfeeding Week, in order to raise awareness on these healthy and crucial practices for optimum child health.
APSA also works with around 250 anganwadi staff in order to help improve their functioning and efficacy and enhance their knowledge on child and gender rights. Anganwadi workers are given awareness inputs on gender and child rights, child protection structures, child sexual abuse, trafficking, alcohol and substance abuse, and alcohol-related domestic violence, and HIV & AIDS, among other topics. APSA has also undertaken distribution of learning and play material, stationery and dustbins to encourage solid waste management in anganwadis.
