The first 28 days after birth (neonatal period) is the most crucial period for the newborn as a large number of deaths occur during this period mainly due to prematurity, infections, hypothermia, congenital abnormalities, low birth weight & SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). However, the important thing is that these deaths are to a large extent preventable.
26 lakh (2.6 million) newborns die worldwide every year. Of this, 6.4 lakh (0.6 million) deaths occur in India.
At present India ranks 31 worst out of 184 countries of the world.
VASTRR is a not for profit organisation which focuses on preventing neonatal mortality due to inadequate & unhygienic clothing of the newborn by educating & creating awareness amongst the expectant mothers, newly delivered mothers & adolescent girls in Government hospitals, anganwadis, villages & urban slums about infections, hypothermia, low birth weight babies & SIDS. We educate the mothers holistically about breastfeeding & its proper technique, swaddling, Kangaroo Mother Care & care of newborn. As part of our mission, we distribute a newborn baby package consisting of a baby dress, cloth reusable diaper, baby blanket, baby sheet, soap & hand sanitiser to the newly delivered mothers in Government hospitals.
Presently we are educating the newly delivered mothers & expectant mothers at 8 govt hospitals in Delhi, Noida & Gurugram i.e. Shri Dada Dev Matri avum Shishu Hospital, Acharya Shree Bhikshu Hospital, Guru Gobind Singh Hospital, Deep Chand Bhandu hospital , Tibbia College & Hospital, Base Hospital & Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar hospital (Noida), Civil Hospital Gurugram.
We have so far educated 8000+ mothers in various govt hospitals & distributed about 3200+ newborn baby packages.
We have organised camps in various hospitals & slum areas in Delhi.
We have also successfully educated about 5000+ women in nukkad (small) gatherings in Orissa during a 13-day event.
Clean, hygienic & adequate clothing of the newborn is a birthright soon after birth
*Nothing is more heartbreaking for a mother than to lose her child*
Our whole effort is towards lowering the Neonatal Mortality Rate(NMR) which is the absolute need of the hour.
About the NGO
The NGO was officially founded on 14 Nov 2018 which coincidentally happens to be Children's Day as well (though we have been working on the prevention of neonatal mortality since March 2018) by Lt Col (Dr) Parminder Kaur, an Ex army doctor. Presently we are working in the region in & around Delhi, but the final aim would be to expand the mission to the neighbouring state where the NMR is very high so that we are able to achieve a target NMR set by UNICEF of 12 neonatal deaths per 1000 lives births by the year 2030.This is the only NGO in India working EXCLUSIVELY for prevention of neonatal mortality ( other NGOs are working in conjunction to prevent Maternal Mortality &/ or Infant mortality).
About the Founder
Lt Col (Dr) Parminder Kaur is a retired Army doctor having put in 23 yrs of service in Army & Civil hospitals. It was during her house residency she realised that a large no of neonatal deaths which were due to ignorance, poverty, illiteracy & age old customs & beliefs could be prevented merely by educating the expectant, newly delivered mothers & adolescent girls who would be mothers someday. Hence, in Nov 2018 she officially founded her NGO VASTRR for creating awareness for the prevention of neonatal mortality due to inadequate & unhygienic clothing of the newborn to prevent infections, hypothermia & SIDS.
She is an avid cyclist & has participated in many cycling events. Her NGO received the award for" Special Contribution" from Konark International Cyclothon Orissa for creating awareness regarding neonatal mortality in 13 days cycling cum awareness event in 10 districts of Orissa.
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