Compassion International has blazed a new frontier for pregnant women and infants in East India. The area's first Child Survival Program opened in Kakdwip, a village of a little more than 15,000 people in the state of West Bengal, in January.
Colorado Springs, CO (PRWEB) May 9, 2007 -- Compassion International has blazed a new frontier for pregnant women and infants in East India. The area's first Child Survival Program opened in Kakdwip, a village of a little more than 15,000 people in the state of West Bengal, in January.
Kakdwip, about 60 miles from Kolkata, is a poor area. The unemployment rate has soared to about 70 percent, and day labor, the most common form of work, yields salaries as small as 50 cents to a dollar a day. In such an environment, the infant mortality rate is high -- in Kakdwip, it's 51 deaths per 1,000 births.
"Given the severity of the economic and social environment of this region, it is Compassion's intent to equip the women and caregivers enrolled in this program with resources that will save and improve the lives of their babies," said Rebeca Harcharik, Compassion Child Survival Specialist. "We've been pleased with the progress at the Kakdwip Child Survival Program and believe it will have an impact in this area, improving the overall condition of the babies we serve."
The first priority in promoting effective child development is to ensure children survive the early years when they are most vulnerable to disease and malnutrition. That means educating the mother or primary caregiver, before and after her child is born. At Kakdwip's Child Survival Program, expectant women and mothers with infants and toddlers through age 3 receive special care and guidance, as well as food, supplements, hygiene products and clothes. They learn to prepare nutritious meals for themselves and their young children. Periodical medical checkups are also provided for the mothers and babies.
The more than 35 young children in Kakdwip's program also receive immunizations against polio, tuberculosis, measles and diphtheria.
"I have very high hopes for this Child Survival Program," said D. G. Jebaraj, Compassion's East India Country Director. "I believe if you check on this program after three years, you will see many success stories on how we are making a big difference in the lives we serve."
Compassion works with about 4,000 indigenous churches, and is one of the world's largest Christian child development organizations, working with more than 65 denominations in Africa, Asia, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Since 1952, Compassion has touched the lives of more than 1.5 million children and has been recognized for its financial integrity with top ratings and recommendations by several of the nation's leading not-for-profit "watchdog" organizations. For information about sponsoring a child, contact Compassion online at Compassion.com or by calling (800) 336-7676, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., MST.
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