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On June 1st, 2011, Niramaya Health Foundation completed 10 yrs in the field of Health, serving the underprivileged and marginalized communities in Maharashtra. The staff, some of the Directors, Volunteers of Niramaya and personnel from some of the funding agencies had a small get-together.
We remembered all those working for Niramaya who left us for heavenly abode. Special tribute was paid to late Dr. Vardachary who was very actively involved as a Board Member in Niramaya’s development and progress. We also remembered all those volunteers from world over who came, learnt, participated, and contributed to Niramaya’s programs.
Certificates were given to the Health Workers who have been with Niramaya since the beginning for their dedication and hard work. Cake cutting ceremony was done by Directors Dr. Janaki Desai, Dr. Vimla Nadkarni and volunteer Jamuna Vardachary.
It was a very emotional experience for all those who have been a part of Niramaya since its inception. |
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Niramaya's Program Manager, giving an overview
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Dr. Janaki Desai, talking
about hormonal changes
during adolesecence |
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We are working in the field of HEALTH; hence all of us know that 7th April is celebrated as World Health Day. We decided to celebrate this day with simplicity. In order to create awareness amongst the community people coming over to the clinic, we deliberately wished each one of them for the World Health Day, by giving a red rose. The importance of this day was elaborately explained by the clinic head Dr. Rahul Sonawane.
In this age it is important to spread a word about health to the people to help them achieve health seeking behavior in their routine to avoid contraction of ill-health in life. The notice board was designed depicting the WHO 2011 theme – for avoiding overuse of antibiotics. People visiting the clinic were particularly happy to have gained knowledge of importance and of course gifting a rose made them feel very special. |
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As every year, this year too womens’ day was celebrated with much gung ho in the community. All the local NGO viz: Pratham, Apanalaya, Police Foundation and many others joined hands to make this event a success. The chief sponsor Uninor, made sure that the arrangements were made well. Dignitaries from all the organizations were present to grace the occasion.
The program saw a turn out of around 500 women and their kids. Children of different age groups were also present. All who were present got to see amazing performances like Ovi (type of Marathi folk song) sung on Savitribai phule, Fancy Dress competition, practical demos by people from Andhshrddha Nirmulan Samiti etc. Niramaya had its peers dressed as people from medical profession to symbolize health. Dr. Rahul Sonawane (Niramaya’s Project Officer), was instrumental in getting all the requirements in place for the program. The day ended with women receiving prizes in the form of fridges and television and a vote of thanks by
Dr. Sonawane |
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Program manager on stage |
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Presence of huge |
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The day was celebrated with great enthusiasm by Niramaya staff and the community kids. Dr. Rahul Sonawane, on behalf of Niramaya Health Foundation and the head of the clinic cum resource centre hoisted the flag on that day. India was declared to be a republic sovereign on that day as carries great importance in the history of India.
The clinic celebrated this day in clooaboration with Vishwamitra Mahila Mandal and its volunteers, who have also been a great support in past, for clinic activities. A small Niramaya Library was inaugurated on that day, which carries a typewriter that can be utilized to train children in the community in typing. The clinic staff was very keen to set up this library and worked hard for the same. The children were happy to receive chocolates and sweets along with their teachers from Pratham Education Foundation. Mrs. Kale, who had always been an initiator for different activities requested for a health education session for members of their mahila mandal. It was a memorable and an eventful day.
Similarly the 62nd republic day was celebrated with great pomp and enthusiasm at the dumping ground. The program started at 10.00 am with the flag hoisting ceremony and singing of the National Anthem. 66 Drop-in Center took part in the various activities for the day. The children delivered speeches and sang patriotic songs. Some cultural activities like Dance and Shayaris were also part of the event. Our health worker also addressed the crowd regarding the importance of the day. Three prize winning entries were selected and given tokens of appreciation. The Program was concluded with distribution of snacks and chocolates. |
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Niramaya’s ‘Anemia Prevention and Control Program’ Team (APCP) had organized an event — “Recipe Competition” for the mothers of balwadi children. At the event, the mothers could participate as well as learn the nutritious recipes within their budget which will contribute towards good health and improve the cognitive functions of the Preschool children.
35 mothers participated. Parents were found to be well versed with Tricolor nutritious concept which was reflected in the recipes prepared by them and showed the impact of Behavior Change Communication (BCC) strategy through the use of IEC material which are carried out by our Health workers.
Three parents were awarded Prizes for their child friendly nutritious dishes. Discussions were held about the need of nutritive food for the children and all the participants were encouraged to prepare nutritious food for your children within their budgets.
Some of the kids danced on various famous Bollywood songs and made the event more entertaining and memorable. |
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GlaxoSmith Kline introduced its Orange Day, globally in January 2009 and since that time it has been encouraging thousands of its employees to make a significant difference to local community projects. The initiative allows each employee to take a day fully paid to volunteer for a chosen community project, organisation or cause which they support. The Orange Day has developed volunteering within GSK to substantial levels and has obvious benefits for both the employee and the organisation receiving the assistance.
In mumbai Glaxo CSR department has many projects with various NGO. Niramaya Ragpicker is one of them. On 10 Dec 2010 Glaxo organized Orange day at Govandi in collaboration with Niramaya Health Foundation and Pratham Education Initiative.
As part of the awareness program on Orange Day, a huge rally in which 400 to 500 Children from Drop-in Center of Niramaya and Pratham along with 40 Glaxo volunteer participated. The rally was flagged off by Hon. Director Dr. Janaki Desai near Gausuwara Masjid and contained posters, slogans and banners on Health issues ,Education which were exhibited all through the route from the Dumping clinic to Shivaji Nagar Bus Depo.
After the rally, the crowd separated for their activity at respective centers. So in Niramaya drop-in-center 4 volunteers along with 65 children of Drop-in-center actively participated in the class. The volunteer conducted various activities with children like singing songs, speeches and health related games and sparked off a friendly conversation with them. At the same time another group of 3 volunteers delivered sessions on micro finance to 18 rag picker women’s in Niramaya Clinic. After the lunch breaks a session on the personal, environmental hygiene and importance of education in life were conducted for kids. A drawing competition was held for the children. Three prize winning entries were selected and given tokens of appreciation
The overall response to the event was overwhelming with involvement of most of the local community. A formal address was made to the kids by the doctors and volunteers. Snacks, chocolates were distributed amongst children along with a dinner-set to each child as a gift. The event ended with a vote of thanks to all those who were involved. |
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Niramaya Health Foundation celebrated the HIV/AIDS week by lining a series of events from December 1st to 5th, 2010. Events like poster exhibition, quiz competitions, distribution of IEC – Information Education and Communication material were conducted in different areas during the week. We received an overwhelming response from all over, in terms of participation, cooperation and interest. Niramaya in collaboration with AVERT society conducts a program on HIV/AIDS with zari workers, the only one organization working for the unorganized sector in Mumbai. Under the teams’ guidance events of creating awareness were organized – a rally with HIV/AIDS posters, a street play performed by professionals and the team members as well, movie screening for workers, etc. the week went by with an amazing response from the community and a feeling of fulfillment to have contributed to the society in some way. Niramaya wishes to have a disease free society by doing its bit in the health sector.
Our Nashik project also marked this day by, organizing a huge rally in collaboration with GAVS (Gramin Arogya Vikas Sanstha) and K.B.H Vidayalaya, Kranjali in Nasik District on the 3rd of December 2010.
The rally saw in action, 700 students from the local school along with teachers and Niramaya team were participated. The rally was flagged off by the Dr Surjuse and contained posters, slogans and banners which were exhibited all through the route from the K.B.H Vidyalaya to the P.H.C and Gram panchayat Office grounds.
After the rally, the crowd gathered at the K.B.H Vidyalaya ground for the poster exhibition. The poster exhibition was inaugurated by the Sabhapati of Peth Taluka. The guests were felicitated and a formal address on the importance of the day and how community participation in such events help spread awareness on HIV/ AIDS was delivered by Dr Surjuse Nashik.
The overall reaction to the event was overwhelming with involvement of most of the local masses.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks to all those who were involved. |
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The Birth Anniversary of Pandit Nehru is celebrated as Children’s Day for his love of children. Niramaya too followed the tradition by celebrating it for the community children on 16th Nov, 2010. Painting and poster exhibitions were organized which saw great response from the children and various child arts were displayed depicting the talents of all the kids. The mehandi competition received great participation from the girls aged 8 to 15 years. Small-time games were also conducted for smaller age group children. It was a fun-filled day for all the kids with singing and dancing as well by all of them. Niramaya specially thanks the Vishwamitra Mahila and Mitra Mandal for their support and cooperation. Kids were also rewarded with gifts who scored in the competitions to keep up the competitive spirit.
The World Food Day was celebrated on the same day by distributing Niramaya’s Nutrition Powder to each child in the community along with napkins, nail cutters and handkerchiefs reflecting the importance of personal hygiene, which is much important when it comes to food consumption. Children danced to the tune of new filmy numbers and the clinic staff also participated in it.
All thanks to Dr. Rahul Sonawane, the clinic in charge for conceiving such events to increase the community participation and keep up the enthusiasm of the staff at Niramaya! |
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Manohar (person looking behind), supervising the painting and the porter exhibition |
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Girls at the Mehandi competition |
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Dr. Rahul Sonawane, clinic in charge, are seen rewarding the winners. Seen in the picture are Niramaya Health workers, Amit (holding a mike) and Sheeba (extreme right) |
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A days trip was organized for the peers of the community, who help Niramaya for conducting health sessions in the community, important for our programs, as the programmatic activities try to focus on preventive medicine. Nov, 9th was the day when these peers along with three of our health workers, went to the Eliphanta Caves by taking water route from the Gateway Of India, in Mumbai.
It was a lifetime experience for all the peers as they had been in oblivion about the external world all these years. They captured photographs and lived their lives on that day! All the Niramayees are happy for them and wish them luck for their future endeavors. |
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Peeers, at the caves with Niramaya health workers, Sheeba (fourth from left), Chandrakant
(second from right) and
Sachin (extreme left) |
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Chandrakant and Sheeba (first and second from left) with
all the peers at the
Gateway of India |
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