An ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) worker's initiative to build a toilet for her pregnant daughter, has given birth to a new hygiene scheme in Karnataka's Kalaburgi district.
The district's zilla panchayat has announced that officials will organise a post-delivery baby shower for families that have built toilets for their expecting daughters or daughters-in-law, reported Bangalore Mirror.
The programme, named 'Koosu', is aimed at improving the health and hygiene of pregnant women, while also educating families in this regard.
Zilla CEO, Hephsiba R Korlapati said that under the initiative, officials will check for toilet availability or build a new ones where required. The women will be given classes in health, hygiene, sanitation and nutrition and will be advised about breastfeeding and newborn care.
Korlapati added that the district had been ideating over such a programme for a while and that things sped up after ASHA worker Indira Bhai built a toilet for her daughter in just two days.
“In the absence of toilets, women tend to reduce food and water intake during pregnancy, which leads to malnutrition,” Korlapati told Bangalore Mirror.
It is important for ASHA workers to spread awareness about building toilets for pregnant women. These toilets will also have pictures highlighting the importance of breastfeeding. They will also be educated on food and nutrition practices and care to be followed post-delivery.
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