Sathi in Action
What if you finally had an opportunity to get the education you’d been denied, but you were too tired to stay awake in class?
Could you focus on learning a trade if you were scared something was terribly wrong with you, but the doctor wouldn’t even exam you?
Sambhali Trust knew that all the hard work women and girls were doing to improve their lives could come to a standstill if health needs weren’t addressed. And so, at the beginning of this year, the Sathi (“Companion”) project was born, providing access to health education, basic care, triage, and assistance navigating the healthcare system. Sathi is a natural—and much needed—addition to Sambhali’s holistic approach to empowerment.
During the last six months, the Sathi team—led by Nurse Saraswati Nair with field staff Kuldeep Singh and Hemant Singh Bhati—delivered consistent health and wellness services across all Sambhali project sites providing health services to 777 individuals. Overall, the project has succeeded in transforming healthcare delivery within Sambhali’s programs from occasional and reactive assistance to a systematic, proactive, and empowering model. The combination of accessible care, regular workshops, and individualized follow-up has already improved the well-being and confidence of hundreds of women and children in these six months.
The results are seen every day in stories like these taken from Sambhali Trust’s monthly reports:
My name is Afsara. I am 18 years old. My father is an auto driver. My mother is a housewife. I have one brother and two sisters. I came to know about the Sakhi Empowerment Center through a survey and decided to take admission here. I am getting help from Sambhali to improve my skills. Now, my reading and writing skills have improved a lot. Earlier, my health was not good, and I was suffering from anemia, but after the nurse visited and gave me iron tablets, my health improved. I enjoy studying here every day and spending time with my friends. I like listening to poems, and I respect my teachers very much. In the future, I want to become a fashion designer.
A 19-year-old girl named Saira came to our Laadli Empowerment Center in Jodhpur to learn sewing. Our tutor, Asha Ji, described her as quiet and withdrawn. She has very short hair, a condition she has had since childhood. On one occasion, she visited the hospital with her mother, but instead of receiving treatment, the doctor turned her away. Later, Saira’s mother shared her concern with Asha Ji. Saira and her mother returned to the hospital seeking treatment. The doctor advised Saira to get an MRI done elsewhere and sent them away. When they approached a private lab for the MRI, they were asked to pay 5,000 rupees, which they could not afford. Our tutor, Asha Ji, informed our nurse, Saraswati Ji, about the situation. Saraswati Ji personally accompanied Saira, ensured she received her MRI and other necessary tests free of charge at the same government hospital, and provided her with the appropriate medications. Today, Saira is healthy, confident, and regularly attending her classes. Her recovery inspired other young women to seek medical care when needed.
What if you finally made the brave leap to change your future and there was a nurse by your side making sure it could happen?