Home to 1.1 billion people, India is a world leader in information technology. However, 300 million people are struggling to survive on less than US$1 a day. India is frequently hit by natural disasters — for example, the Indian Ocean tsunami (2004), and floods (2007 and 2008). An estimated 3.1 million people are living with HIV.
One week into the job and I have my first visit to a programme: a school for street children in Delhi. As I walked there, I was preparing myself for the heart-wrenching feeling I get everyday when I see so many children begging and ragpicking on the streets of Delhi.
Driving around parts of Delhi gives one of the clearest impressions that India is a big booming economy. The expanded metro, hordes of cars in the road, busy shops and big houses all point to rising affluence. From one of the main roads, a quick turn into Sanjay Colony gives a view of very different world. There is no road to speak of, make-shift structures abound and a proper sanitation system is obviously absent.
Today I attended the launch of a new book, sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation at the London School for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, that analyses why some countries achieve good health outcomes despite having low income status.
Every mum wants to safeguard her children, whether you live in Beverly hills or the slums of Delhi.
This week, both Indian and South African governments have announced proposed reforms to their health financing policies that would mark significant progress towards their citizens gaining access to free essential health care.
Community health workers make a huge difference in reducing child deaths, says Kumari. “On one of my visits a mother told me her child was seriously ill. I told her, you’ve been going to the traditional doctor and spending money, so at least come to the clinic for free treatment.”
On his maiden visit to Delhi, Spanish Striker Fernando Llorente, Save the Children’s brand new Campaign Ambassador, chose not to talk about football but the need to prevent the deaths of millions of children from ailments that are completely treatable and preventable.
While child survival has tremendously improved in the past decades — the global under-five mortality rate has fallen by 32% between 1990 and 2009 — many children still live without the most basic healthcare services. Some 40 million children in 25 developing countries with high levels of child mortality are living in healthcare deserts.
My last week in Kashmir, India is filled with field visits to our newly established Child Friendly Spaces. In 72 communities in Kashmir we have set up recreational facilities for children in the poorest and most affected villages by the conflict to support their overall well-being and development. One month after opening, these spaces are a huge success — approximately 3,600 children play in the spaces on a regular basis.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the North Indian state known for its long history of conflict and violence, Save the Children is currently implementing a massive child protection programme covering 6 districts and 144 villages. One of the key components of this programme is the establishment of Child Friendly Spaces in all project villages. When I arrived here three weeks ago I was given the responsibility to train all 144 community workers and make the child friendly spaces operational as soon as possible.
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