malnutrition

Nutrition for Healthy Children

On 12-2-2016, our child helpline received an information about a baby boy (2 ½ months) and a girl (2 yrs). A Public Health Nurse gave the tipoff that the children were not given proper care by her mother who was leading an immoral life. The younger child was not receiving minimum nutrition and appeared to be on the verge of chronic starvation. As per the information, our CHILDLINE Staff conducted the regular case follow up. The situation witnessed at the child’s home was simply intolerable. At the time of visit, child’s mother was away and only the grandmother was there as caretaker. The lady was handicapped and not capable of looking after the children. Upon further examination, it was revealed that the child was not even fed with the required amount of breast milk. We rescued the children and their mother and got permission to accommodate them at a Govt shelter home. 

World Health Organization (WHO) says that malnutrition is by far the largest contributor to child mortality globally, currently present in 45 percent of all cases. Underweight births and inter-uterine growth restrictions are responsible for about 2.2 million child deaths annually in the world. Deficiencies in vitamin A or zinc cause 1 million deaths each year. In the above mentioned case the right to adequate nutrition has been negated. Giving effect to children’s right to adequate nutrition begins with ensuring proper nutrition in uterus and during the first two years. It also means ensuring the nutritional needs of girls and women of childbearing age and pregnant and lactating women are met. These groups are entitled to adequate nutrition and health for their own well-being, as reflected in Article 12 of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) by the UNICEF.

Signs and symptoms of malnutrition in children include:

• Loss of fat
• Breathing difficulties, a higher risk of respiratory failure
• Depression
• Higher risk of hypothermia - abnormally low body temperature
• The total number of some types of white blood cells falls; consequently, the immune system is weakened, increasing the risk of infections.
• Higher susceptibility to feeling cold
• Longer healing times for wounds
• Longer recover times from infections
• Longer recovery from illnesses
• Reduced muscle mass
• Reduced tissue mass
• Tiredness, fatigue, or apathy
• Irritability.

In more severe cases:

• Skin may become thin, dry, inelastic, pale, and cold
• Eventually, as fat in the face is lost, the cheeks look hollow and the eyes sunken
• Hair becomes dry and sparse, falling out easily
• Sometimes, severe malnutrition may lead to unresponsiveness (stupor)
• If calorie deficiency continues for long enough, there may be heart, liver and respiratory failure
• Total starvation is said to be fatal within 8 to 12 weeks (no calorie consumption at all).

The United Nations educational guides for children classify the rights outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child as the "3 Ps": Provision, Protection, and Participation. Among the three, ‘Provision’ clearly states the right of a child to be fed with a balanced diet for proper physical and mental development; Provision: Children have the right to an adequate standard of living, health care, education and services, and to play and recreation. These include a balanced diet, a warm bed to sleep in, and access to schooling.

Children who are severely malnourished typically experience slow behavioral development, even mental retardation may occur. Even when treated, it may have long-term effects in children, with impairments in mental function and digestive problems persisting - in some cases for the rest of their lives.

Malnutrition is caused mainly by not consuming the right balance of nutrients from major food groups. These include: Carbohydrates, Fruit and vegetables, Protein, Dairy, Fats and Water. Always remember the potential lifelong deadly effects of malnutrition, especially among children.

An apt quote by World Vision evidently summarizes the subject “Hunger is not just a stomach thing”

Staff PIcnic 2016

A Welcome Break

The staff members of Don Bosco Veedu Society, Trivandrum embarked on the Annual Picnic on 27/02/2016. It was a rejuvenating experience for all the members who took part in it; as a time to release the pressure from their hectic daily work life and to have some fun.

Seeking blessings from almighty for a safe and happy journey the whole team bid farewell to Trivandrum city. Breakfast was arranged at the residence of one of our staff members. Soon after the sumptuous meal, all were set for the first destination      

At around 12.00pm we reached our first Chitharal Jain Guha temple is situated at Thikkurissy village in Attoor, around 7 km from Marthandam, Tamil Nadu. There is steep walk for almost 15 minutes to reach the zenith. The 9th BC monument is worth a visit. The historic and scenic beauty of temple and its surroundings, the view from the hill top are enthralling. Due to its remote location there is no rush at any time.

Next destination was the Thripparap Waterfalls. The beautiful waterfall descending from Kodayar River is located at a distance of 60 km from Kanyakumari. It is one of the most popular falls in the Southern Tamil Nadu with its 50ft drop. The team had a refreshing dip and was all set to continue their trip.

Post lunch, Kanyakumari beach was the last item on the checklist. Reaching the beach at around 5.00pm, the group decided to split. Some went shopping at the local bazaar while others chose to spend some quality time enjoying the breathtaking view of sunset.

At around 11.00pm the whole team was back to Don Bosco Nivas, Trivandrum. 

25 years

Silver Jubilee Celebration

Don Bosco Veedu Society celebrated its Silver Jubilee on 5h of February 2016, at the Bishop Pereira hall, Nanadavanam. Fr P.D Thomas Director Don Bosco Veedu Society welcomed the gathering. His Grace Most Rev. Dr Soosa Pakiam M, the Archbishop of Trivandrum Archdiocese blessed the occasion and conveyed his words of grace. Rev Fr Joyce Thonikkuzhiyil, SDB, the Provincial of Don Bosco, Bangalore presided over the function. Smt. Shobha Koshy, the Chairperson Kerala Child Rights Commission was the Special Guest at the Function.    

Representatives from the Social Justice Department, the Labour Department, the Railways and the Police Department graced the occasion and were specially honored for the 25 years of help and support towards the work for the children at risk.

In Collaboratio with the labour Department of Kerala, the Society has initiated a help desk for the young migrant labourers who reach the city. The launching of the project also took place at the occasion. 

The Silver Jubilee Souvenir was released by Smt. Shobha Koshi, the Chairperson of Child Rights Commission of Kerala. 

The Previous Directors of the Society were also honoured on the occasion for their dedicated and meritorious work of leading from the front. 

The cultural programmes by children of the Sree Chithra Home, Vinoba Niketan, Namaste Wings to Fly, Shalom and Students of the Don Bosco Tuition Centre entertained the audience with their spectacular performances. 

Yar national Seminar

REACHING THE UNREACHED

The Trivandrum Don Bosco Veedu Society organized two days National Seminar on the 4^th and 5^th of February 2016 on the theme “Reaching the Unreached”   focus on the 18+ age group young at Risk categories (Young Prsioners, Senior Children of Juvenile Homes and Migrant Young labourers) . The Seminar was inaugurated by Adv R.V Rajesh, the Chairperson of Kerala Youth Commission, in the esteemed presence of Rev Fr. Stephen Mukkattil, the Rector of Don Bosco Veedu Society, Trivandrum, and Rev Fr Thomas Koshy, Fr Maria Charles, Fr Mathew Thomas and Fr Thomas P.D.

122 delegates and speakers from different parts of the country participated in the seminar. The five sessions were: Migrant youth in unorganized sectors by Mr. Kshithij Urs, Action Aid India; Young prisoners – Leading them to freedom and dignity by Mr. Vikas Kadam, Prayas, TISS; Social Integration of senior children in Juvenile Homes and special homes by Ms Arlene Manoharan, Programme Co-ordinator - Juvenile Justice, CCL, NLSIU; Human Rights Education in schools by Fr Thomas Pallithanam SDB; and Skilling as strategy to empower the target groups by Fr A.M Hose, ED, Don Bosco Tech, India.

The National YaR Seminar 2016 witnessed the prestigious YaR awards under various categories to celebrate outstanding organizations and personalities that have rendered their services to the Young at risk across India.

jubilee

Its time to celebrate! Its Our Silver Jubilee

merrry XMAS

deaf children

They are also Children

Don Bosco Veedu Society has tried to rehabilitate seven deaf and dumb children in the past one year. All these children had run away from their homes or schools. It is often a tedious task to restore them as it is very difficult to trace their family due to communication issues. We have found that almost all such children also have mental health problems and it is mainly due to the neglect they often feel even if their homes are healthy. In all the seven cases our rehabilitative process of training them in schools for deaf and dumb have failed due to the fact that they often run away and find it difficult to adjust with others. It is natural that they feel neglected in a family as they can get on the nerves of others especially in conversations.

According to the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), approximately 66 percent of Deaf people live in developing countries, where authorities are rarely familiar with their needs and where very few Deaf children have access to employment and education. Only about 10 percent of the world's Deaf population receive any education at all, and only one percent receives this education in sign language - even though the majority of deaf people worldwide use sign language in their daily lives.  Even if home is healthy it would be much better that they grow up with similar children so that neglect issues will not crop up.

It is often difficult for a Deaf person to break into a conversation. He/she cannot hear and be uncertain as to when they can break in. When this happens, it may appear that they seem to be intruding on what you say without contributing. In this circumstance, you need to be proactive and turn to the Deaf person and make eye contact, as a signal to join the conversation or to give a message or to ask a question. Deaf children are relegated to a low social status as a direct result of the poor or nonexistent education they receive, the stigma they face, and the lack of awareness of their full potential as active members of society.

Waking up in the morning can be the first daily activity that presents a problem. Many deaf people can use their internal clock to wake up in the morning if they spend some time learning techniques for waking up. Smoke detectors, timers on the oven and even the telephone present problems for deaf people every day. Technology is helping alleviate some of these difficulties. Alarm clocks can now turn on lights or vibrate to help the deaf person wake up. Telephones are also available to allow the deaf person to communicate on the phone.

Traditional school environments are difficult for a deaf person to navigate without the aid of interpreters. Special schools for the deaf help young people learn how to communicate with others and the skills necessary to get through the world as a deaf person. The use of interpreters in college helps many deaf people earn degrees and advance in the workplace.

 

Deaf children face the lack of positive Deaf role models who can communicate successfully and mentor the children to reach their full potential. As a result, most of the young people are doing poorly or failing their classes. They cannot imagine attending college, let alone becoming a successful professional. Society tells them that they are "dumb."

Without proper education, deaf role models, mentors and tools to gain acceptance in society, deaf children will continue to face issues of neglect.