Newsletter 02 2006.pdf - Sight and Life

NEWSLETTER 2/2006
33
SIGHT AND LIFE
macronutrients and the importance
of a balanced diet were
emphasized.
During the past year 30 orientation
seminars were conducted
for SHG leaders (many of them
are women) representing about
900 groups. The training had a
wholesome effect and served its
purpose. The members of the
SHGs are trained well and the
success of the project relies on
them as they have to bring the
group together and to pass on
the messages.
Kitchen gardening
This proved to be an interesting
and suitable approach. Besides
the general public, school children
showed much interest in planting
saplings beside the school and in
other places. It was demonstrated
how to collect seeds and how to
handle them to grow plants.
Cultural programs
The street plays and other activities
have their own impact on the program.
In this way even illiterate people
can understand the concept.
Conclusions
The program is going well and
developing in the right direction.
There are more people to
reach and resources are never
enough. We thank all those who
contributed to the success of the
program especially all the active
participants, school children,
women and SHG leaders, but
also organizations like SIGHT
AND LIFE, whose contributions
are essential. We hope to be able
to continue our work with the
help of all.
An integrated nutrition, training and education
program
R Ratna Swamy, State Health Coordinator, Population and Environmental Education
Centre (PEEC), Velgode, Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Introduction
PEEC considers itself privileged
to work hand in hand with SIGHT
AND LIFE. The support of SIGHT
AND LIFE over the past years
has made it possible to develop
a significant health program covering
most of the state of Andhra
Pradesh. Reports about PEEC
activities were included in SIGHT
AND LIFE Newsletters 3/2001
(pp. 34–35) and 1/2004 (p. 17).
The program is a continuation
from previous years and it is key
to sustainability through education,
counseling and distribution
of vitamin A capsules. The main
target groups are community and
grass-roots people who are given
adequate knowledge to make use
of the available natural resources
to overcome nutritional problems
in growing children.
Main activities
PEEC is a center for the coordination
of activities for more
than 110 local NGOs, and even
more NGOs attend information
meetings. Orientation and training
programs for NGO leaders
on the importance of vitamin A
deficiency (VAD) are offered, as
well as awareness camps on
eye care for schoolchildren, slum
children and their parents. The
vitamin A capsules from SIGHT
AND LIFE are not only important
for the immediate prevention of
deficiency, they are also an important
tool to raise awareness
and to reach people and finally to
communicate the message about
the importance of the vitamin A
and the various kinds of fruits,
vegetables and other foods containing
vitamin A and provitamin
A carotenoids.
The financial support from SIGHT
AND LIFE allows us to give small
financial contributions to some
NGOs for their activities and to
start vegetable gardens. PEEC
prepares and prints resource materials
like wall posters, handbills,
stickers and booklets etc. in the
local language. Assistance was
offered to tsunami victim families
using a special grant from SIGHT
AND LIFE.
Training programs
During 2005 only three training
programs were conducted. They
were attended by representatives
from 85, 90 and 66 NGOs.
Awareness programs
Some of the partner NGOs are selected
for this program to spread
the message on the need for
vitamin A and its relation to eye
care. These NGOs visit schools,
slum areas, integrated child development
schools and women’s
groups, and enlighten them about
the importance of healthy nutrition.
Also they inform the children,
their parents and neighbors
about the various vegetables and
fruits. These NGOs also distribute
resource materials like wall posters,
handbills, UNICEF materials
and booklets, and they paste wall
posters on the walls of important