When Vantika came into the world on 28 June 2024, she weighed just 1.5 kg, far smaller and weaker than a healthy newborn should be. Frail and dangerously underweight, she spent the first 15 days of her life in the Paediatric ICU at Government General Hospital in East Delhi, fighting to survive.
Vantika’s family lives in the Lal Bagh slum community, one of Delhi’s most neglected scavenger settlements. Their home is a small tarpaulin-covered shanty, and like many families around them, they struggle each day to survive. Her father, Mangal, earns a seasonal income playing the drum at weddings and scavenges for the rest of the year, while her mother, Savan, became a mother at just 21 years of age.
For years, families in Lal Bagh had little access to healthcare. That began to change in May 2025, when Asha started serving the community through its Asha Ambulance initiative. With regular visits from Asha’s nurse practitioner and health team, families finally began receiving healthcare close to home.
In January 2026, when Vantika was around 18 months old, an Asha community health worker visited her home. They found that she weighed only 6 kg, placing her well below the healthy range for her age according to the WHO growth chart. She was also unable to stand properly, showing signs of delayed physical development.
Asha’s health team immediately stepped in. Her parents received counselling on regular feeding and balanced nutrition, while Vantika was given iron syrup, B-complex, Vitamin D3 supplements, and nutritious laddoos. The team continued to monitor her progress through follow-up visits every 15 days.
At her most recent check-up, Vantika’s weight had increased to 7.5 kg. She remains in the red zone for malnutrition, and her journey is far from over. Yet every kilogram gained is a step towards a healthier future and a reminder that timely healthcare, proper nutrition, and consistent follow-up can change the course of a child’s life.
In communities like Lal Bagh, where poverty leaves children especially vulnerable, families cannot do this alone. With your support, Asha can continue reaching children like Vantika with lifesaving healthcare, nutritional support, and the ongoing care they need not only to survive, but to grow stronger and healthier every day.
