November is marked as adoption awareness month each year. To draw attention to adoption-related issues, with a particular emphasis on the adoption of children who are older, require special needs or currently in foster care, the theme of this year is "Rehabilitation of Older Children through Foster Care & Foster Adoption." Adoption involves a lifelong commitment to safeguard the interests of the child as well as the families concerned.
Besides being a successful child adoption center, Aakanksha shishu kalyan kendra also runs a project for care of mothers with unwanted advanced pregnancy. The project takes care of the financial needs of the mother and the baby. The mother is also helped to surrender the baby legally to the center.
Keeping this commitment in mind and as a part of the awareness campaign, under the guidance of Hon. Secretary of Kasturba Health Society, Dr. B. S. Garg and Medical Superintendent of Kasturba Hospital & Chief executive officer of Aakanksha Shishu Kalyan Kendra, Dr. Poonam Varma Shivkumar, a team comprising of Dr Bharati Mahindrakar-Jain, Associate Professor, MGIMS, Ms. Sandhya Mishra, Superintendent and Mrs. Dipa Shinde, Social worker of Aakanksha Shishu Kalyan Kendra, Sevagram have organized various events for November month.
We organized various events in November 2024. The details of events celebrated are as follows:
1. Anganwadi sewika visit at Aakanksha Shishu Kalyan Kendra, Sevagram:
On November 13th 2024, we organized a visit of Anganwadi sewika to grade the development of children of Aakanksha. In this event, the height, weight, and head circumference of our 0-6 year’s children was measured and gradation according to Anganwadi criteria was established. In this event, we invited Mrs. Shweta Vivek Burande, Anganwadi sewika, Warud and Mrs Sunanda Dandekar, Legal cum Probation Officer, District child protection unit, Wardha and our staff nurses Mrs Bharati Bhasme, Mrs Kiran and caretakers were present in this event.
- Awareness campaign at Kasturba Nursing School, Sevagram:
With the slogan “अगर आप एक बच्चा गोद लेते हैं तो दुनिया नहीं बदल सकती, लेकिन उस बच्चे की दुनिया बदल जाएगी।”, we arranged a adoption awareness drive at Kasturba Nursing School, Sevagram where more than 70 GNM students were present along with Principal and faculty members of the nursing school. This awareness campaign mainly focuses on the issues and difficulties of unwed mothers by Ms Sandhya Mishra, Superintendent of Aakanksha, and the role of adoption agencies and legal procedure of adoption by Mr Mahesh Kambdi, District child protection officer, Wardha and online registration with central adoption resource authority (CARA) by Mrs Dipa Shinde, Social worker. The program was concluded with the discussion and queries of enthusiastic students with all dignitaries including, Mrs Ranjita Wankhede, Principal, Kasturba Nursing School, Dr Bharati Mahindrakar-Jain, Associate Professor, MGIMS, Sevagram, Mrs Smita Manikpure and other faculty members.
- Adoption awareness program at Gynecology OPD, Kasturba hospital, Sevagram:
On November 18th 2024, the adoption awareness program was conducted at Gynecology OPD, Kasturba Hospital, Sevagram. In this program, Dr Poonam Varma Shivkumar, Medical Superintendent of Kasturba Hospital & Chief executive officer of Aakanksha Shishu Kalyan Kendra enlightens the problems of unwed mothers who visited OPD and about the Sevagram project of our hospital. She also provided valuable information on how Aakanksha runs the project for care of mothers with unwanted advanced pregnancy. Mrs Smita Badhiye, President, Child Welfare Committee (CWC) discussed the role of CWC in accepting the orphan, surrendered and abandoned child. The role of adoption agencies and legal procedure of adoption is nicely explained by Mr Mahesh Kambdi, District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) Officer, Wardha and online registration with CARA. Dr Bharati Mahindrakar-Jain, Associate Professor, MGIMS, Sevagram arranged and explained the event in detail to the patients of OPD. Vote of thanks given by Mrs Dipa Shinde, Social worker, Aakanksha.
- Nutrition awareness by Dietary in charge, Kasturba hospital, Sevagram:
Along with various adoption awareness programs, we arranged nutrition awareness for staff members Aakanksha including staff nurses and caretakers by Dr Payal Rangari, Incharge, Dietary section, Kasturba Hospital, Sevagram on 19th November 2024. This was a very informative and interactive session for staff and easy homemade nutritional tips utilizing our children. The program was conducted by Dr Bharati Mahindrakar-Jain, Associate Professor, MGIMS, Sevagram and Ms Sandhya Mishra, Superintendent of Aakanksha.
- Adoption awareness program at rural hospital, Bhidi:
On November 26th 2024, the adoption awareness program was conducted at Rural Hospital, Bhidi. In this program, Ms. Sandhya Mishra, Superintendent of Aakanksha Shishu Kalyan Kendra enlightens the problems of unwed mothers and about the Sevagram project of our hospital. Details about SAKHI-ONE STOP CENTER by Mrs. Reshma Raghaghate, District Coordinator, Sakhi-One Stop Center, Wardha. Legal procedure of adoption was nicely explained by Mrs. Aarati Niranje, Counselor, DCPU, Wardha. Dr Bharati Mahindrakar-Jain, Associate Professor, MGIMS, Sevagram explained details about adoption procedure and Aakanksha shishu kalyan Kendra, Sevagram. In this event, nursing and school students taking pledge against child marriage which was the highlight of the event.
- Adoption awareness program at PHC, Mothi Anji, Wardha:
This program was conducted on 27th November 2024 on issues and difficulties of unwed mothers and adoption awareness for ASHA workers, nursing staff by Ms Sandhya Mishra, Superintendent of Aakanksha Shishu Kalyan Kendra, Sevagram.
- Upbringing And Nurturing Session By Pediatrician, Dept of Pediatrics, MGIMS:
On 28th November 2024, we conducted an educational and informative session of upbringing and nurturing of Aakanksha children for all staff of Aakanksha including nurses and caretakers. This session was preceded by Dr Varsha Chauhan, Professor, Dept of Pediatrics, MGIMS, Sevagram. Medical check-up of all babies carried out after the session. This session was made possible with the efforts of Ms Sandhya Mishra, Superintendent and Mrs. Dipa Shinde, Social worker of Aakanksha Shishu Kalyan Kendra, Sevagram.
- Student awareness campaign at Kasturba Nursing College, Kasturba Health Society, Sevagram:
On November 28th 2024, an adoption awareness campaign was conducted at Kasturba Nursing College, KHS, Sevagram. Dignitaries present were Mrs. Ancy Ramesh, Principal, Kasturba Nursing College, Sevagram, Mrs. Asha Khobragade, Vice-Principal, Kasturba Nursing College, Mrs. Smita Badhiye, President, CWC, Wardha, Mrs Vaishali Miskin, DCPU, Wardha, Dr Bharati Mahindrakar-Jain, Associate Professor, MGIMS, Sevagram, Ms. Sandhya Mishra, Superintendent of Aakanksha, Mrs Dipa Shinde, Social worker, Aakanksha.
The awareness campaign highlights various issues and solutions to resolve the issues and various guidelines. Mrs. Smita Badhiye, President, CWC discussed the role of CWC in accepting the orphan, surrendered and abandoned child and she also highlighted the POSCO. Role and guidelines of the District child protection unit was explained nicely by Mrs. Vaishali Miskin, DCPU, Wardha. Ms. Sandhya Mishra, Superintendent of Aakanksha enlightens the problems of unwed mothers who visited OPD and about the Sevagram project of our hospital. She also provided valuable information on how Aakanksha runs the project for care of mothers with unwanted advanced pregnancy. In this program, Dr. Bharati Mahindrakar-Jain, Associate Professor, MGIMS, Sevagram arranged and provided valuable information about Aakanksha to the nursing students and teaching staff of nursing college and ensured to spread knowledge to the patients and their relatives to create awareness about adoption and legal procedures. In continuation, Mrs. Dipa Shinde, Social worker, Aakanksha procedures and guidelines of adoption as provided on official website of Central adoption resource authorities (CARA). The program concluded with vote of thanks for such an informative session by Mrs. Asha Khobragade, Vice-Principal, Kasturba Nursing College, Sevagram.
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