Discrimination against Girl Child occurs in every strata of the society – whether rich or poor – and has different forms of manifestation. However, in poverty-stricken families or the ones under financial stress, this inequity is visible more clearly, especially in the hinterlands of the country.
An extension of the discrimination against girl child is the negligence towards the health and general well-being of young girls, especially when it comes to nutrition and healthcare. Defying this discrimination, Niira Radia-led Nayati Healthcare is incentivizing better health for girl child in Uttar Pradesh.
In a social structure where the birth of a girl child is often regretted, Mathura-based Nayati Medicity celebrates the birth of the girl through multiple initiatives. In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao program, Nayati encourages education for the girl child by offering 20 percent discount on medical facilities for school going girl child. Equating the girl child with Goddess Lakshmi, Nayati presents the parents of each baby girl born at Nayati Medicity, Mathura, a certificate with the message ‘Badhai Ho Aapke Ghar Lakshmi Aayi Hai’ and a silver coin. Envisioned by Nayati’s Chairperson and Promoter Niira Radia, these initiatives were aimed at breaking through the prejudice against girl child, and helping to create a society that embraces gender equality.
Talking about the Nayati Initiatives, Nayati Chairperson Niira Radia said, “It is a sad reality that a large number of children, adolescent girls and women have limited or no access to nutrition and essential healthcare services. Gender inequity and discrimination cannot be bridged unless there are equal opportunities in education and healthcare. As the region’s largest healthcare institution, we encountered several scenarios wherein because of lack of resources, preference is given to the treatment of the male child by the families over the girl, even though the girl might need it more. The Nayati Paediatric Foundation has time and again contributed to the cost of surgery in order to save a girl’s life.
We celebrate the birth of every baby girl to reiterate our commitment and support in the larger social movement for the girl child. We hope to send out a positive view of importance of our girls and usher in a social change.”
Nayati Medicity is the first hospital in the region to perform such complex paediatric heart surgeries. The hospital also successfully treated an 8-year-old Agra resident, Tanvi, who was suffering from an extremely rare and complex cardiac birth defect Dextrocardia Situs inversus with multiple holes (VSD) in the heart. Her family could not afford the cost of the surgery, so the Nayati family came together and contributed funds to save Tanvi’s life.
Another example of Nayati’s commitment to ensure the welfare of young girls is the successful treatment of Anju, a 15-year-old girl who was shot from a close range on her way to school by a stalker for spurning his advances. Nayati decided to bear the entire cost for the treatment, and provided continuous care and the best medical support to the girl, who was discharged from the hospital after three weeks.
Apart from facilitating healthcare for young girls in the region, Nayati Healthcare has also been playing a crucial role in ensuring the general well-being of adolescent girls. Nayati’s special education program for teenage girls educates them on multiple issues such as menstrual health and hygiene, nutrition and healthcare in general.
With initiatives like these by Niira Radia’s Nayati healthcare for girl children is making positive strides in Uttar Pradesh.