The Veerni team first came across Ms. Bhanwri during anaemia check-ups at the end of October 2006. She looked frail and sick. Because she complained of weakness, our promoter Ms. Leela brought her to our 'centre' for a health check-up. She worked as a labourer to support her family. Her husband was an alcoholic, her parents partially blind and her brother a cripple. She was in charge of supporting her 4 children.
A physical exam revealed distension of the abdomen, puffiness of face and feet, enlargement of the liver and a haemoglobin level of 6-7 gms. 3 months prior she had had a miscarriage and had suffered heavy bleeding as a result.
The Veerni team struggled to get her admitted to the hospital as her family refused to help, and eventually she approached the team directly and begged them to take her to the hospital. Exams showed near failure of kidneys, liver, heart and lungs. While her prognosis was almost hopeless, she miraculously improved in 3 days time.
After discharge from the hospital the Veerni team followed up on the case bi-weekly, gave her free medicines and insured she was checked up every 15 days at M.G. Hospital. Her condition improved slowly and steadily.
Bhanwri was extremely poor, living in a small hut without a roof. In addition, she and her children were starving as proper food and clean water were unavailable. The Veerni social team took action to provide her with temporary shelter.
In spite of her condition, she started working in a famine relief camp. The Veerni social scientist held many counselling sessions with her husband and in-laws but to no avail. Bhanwri's husband kept drinking and she continued to support the entire family. Many times she had to beg for food and money.
Thanks to a generous donation of $1,500 Veerni has been able to provide Bhanwri and her family with a proper house to protect her from the harsh Rajasthani conditions. Bhanwri is very happy to be in her new home.
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