In a remote Andhra Pradesh village, Gemmeli watched her newborn boy fall dangerously ill. Like many in her community, Gemmeli had grown up with a mistrust of modern medicine. Illness was often explained through superstition, and seeking care could invite judgment or shame. So she stayed silent, unaware of the maternal and child health resources available to her.
Hope soon arrived in the form of Jhansi Rani. Jhansi, an ASHA worker trained by AIF’s MANSI program, recognized the danger signs and provided her son with immediate newborn care. Alongside her team, Jhansi replaced fear with compassion, helping Gemmeli access life-saving treatment for her son’s sepsis. Today, that baby is a healthy and smiling member of Gemmeli’s family!
This bond between a mother and a trusted community member shows how public health programs succeed. For 25 years, the American India Foundation has trained frontline heroes like Jhansi to deliver critical newborn care directly at the doorsteps of young mothers through these vital public health programs.
Your support at aif.org helps us strengthen maternal and child health, ensuring more workers are trained to turn fear into hope for families like Gemmeli’s.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1) What is the mission of AIF’s MANSI program?
MANSI aims to reduce preventable maternal, newborn, and child deaths in India’s most vulnerable rural and tribal communities by empowering local frontline health workers and strengthening existing public health systems.
2) Who does the MANSI program serve?
MANSI provides life-saving care and health education to pregnant women, newborns, children under five, and adolescent girls across rural and tribal areas.
3) How does the MANSI program create impact?
MANSI drives sustainable change by equipping government frontline health workers, including ASHAs and Anganwadi Workers, with the training to deliver low-cost, home-based medical care and lead community campaigns that shift harmful socio-cultural health norms.
4) What has been the impact of the MANSI program so far?
MANSI has reached over 622.9K Pregnant Women Served, 888.3K Children Served (Under 5 Years of Age), 37.6K ASHAs and Frontline Workers Trained, 393.5K Adolescent Girls Reached and reducing under-five mortality by up to 47 percent in its areas of coverage.
5) How can I support AIF’s MANSI program?
You can support vulnerable mothers and newborns across rural India by making a donation at aif.org.
