Taslima lost her husband in February to a microbus accident with their baby due in August. Left with another child just 3-year-old and an aged mother-in-law, she could not even fathom what the future holds. Having lost the only earning member of the family, she was stranded financially and left to scrounge money for the upcoming medical expenses of childbirth and rearing another. Amidst this desperate time, Rahima Khala (Aunty) came to her doorstep.
Rahima Khala (Rahima Khatun) is a Community Health Assistant (CHA) at Grameen Kalyan who goes house to house and conducts medical check-ups, identifies and keeps track of pregnant women and gives healthcare advice in the locality. She is well known and holds a good reputation among the villagers as a capable health worker. Taslima had heard about Rahima Khala and that she works with prominent doctors in a health center named Grameen Kalyan. "It must be expensive", she thought. "Even though it is nearby, I could not possibly afford to go there".
When Rahima Khala stopped by for her medical check-up, she suggested Taslima visit the health center to consult a doctor regarding the pregnancy. Fearful of the expenditure, Taslima discarded the suggestion. However, Rahima Khala informed her about the affordable health care plan provided at Grameen Kalyan, leaving Taslima astonished. Upon comparison, Taslima realized the costs at Grameen Kalyan were less than half that of a private clinic in the district town she visited for her first pregnancy.
After Rahima Khala’s insistence, Taslima agreed to go to the health center and was amazed by the service provided. From the initial health assistance to DMF to being ushered to the doctor, everything in primary health care was being coordinated for her in the center. A female doctor was assigned to her who was updated on all of Taslima’s medical records and so she only needed to inform the doctor of small medical details. The doctor performed an ultrasound and assured the healthy state of the baby Taslima felt a sense of relief and contentment from her medical examination visit. She looked at Rahima Khala with a smile of gratitude and began to understand that Grameen Kalyan is beside the people in their health and sickness. She realized she didn't have to worry about carrying the burden of a huge medical expense. If only her husband could see this now.
Grameen Kalyan believes that before, during, and after a newborn enters the world, both the mother and child deserve the utmost attention and care. Not only just providing the right primary health care for new mothers and children, but Grameen Kalyan also works in creating awareness and providing wellness education from home to home in each area under its health center. But when it comes to implementation, the journey at Grameen Kalyan begins with identifying pregnant women in the areas adjacent to each of the established health centers. Following registration of the expecting mothers, community health assistants keep regular updates of the mothers throughout the entire pregnancy and ensure check-up appointments at Grameen Kalyan’s health centers.
Each year, Grameen Kalyan provides antenatal care to 100,586+ mothers through camps and health centers. Yet, if any complication arises, Grameen Kalyan health professionals refer the patients to responsible doctors capable of handling such situations without any delay. Grameen Kalyan have qualified and experienced paramedics on-call at all times who can ensure safe delivery in uncomplicated cases. With precaution and safety during this pandemic, Grameen Kalyan is conducting limited deliveries only at certain designated health centers. In the post-delivery state, Grameen Kalyan health professionals work to ensure the newborn's health by advising necessary care to be undertaken by families during this time.
Starting with an emphasis on exclusive breastfeeding, Grameen Kalyan educate the mothers on effective breastfeeding methods, awareness of child healthcare, and hygiene.
Community Health Assistants do health check-ups at home to detect any early signs of child health problems, such as malnutrition, diarrhoea, pneumonia, among others and usher them to Grameen Kalyan facilities to get treated immediately.
Our promise is everyone at Bottom of the Pyramid will have equal access to standard healthcare. We welcome partnerships and collaboration to build a better future together.
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