Antara International Inc.

In the remote village of Mehguwa in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh district, Neeta, a 28-year-old mother, was caring for her newborn daughter, Kavya, under challenging circumstances. Kavya was born underweight at 2.8 kilograms, making her especially vulnerable and in need of careful monitoring — something not always easy in areas with limited access to healthcare. With support from The Antara Foundation, village ASHA worker Lalita Rai began visiting Neeta regularly as part of home-based newborn care. She checked Kavya’s health and guided Neeta on feeding and nutrition. With this support, Kavya began to improve, gaining weight and showing early signs of recovery. But after these visits ended, Kavya’s care was influenced by traditional practices. Neeta’s mother-in-law insisted on home remedies such as shaving the baby’s head and feeding her musk tablets, ghutti, and dal water. Though Neeta was unsure, family pressure made it difficult to resist. Gradually, Kavya’s health began to...