Educational Resource and Development Center Nepal (ERDCN)

My name is Ganga Gurung. I was born in the year 1991 as the first child of father Bal Bahadur Gurung and mother Shirmaya Gurung in 1 Dhansira village of Ajirkot RM. Now I am 32 years old. My family consists of 1 son, 1 daughter, husband, mother-in-law and father-in-law. My profession is agriculture while my husband is abroad for employment. 

Before the Dhansira Nutrition Literacy class.

I was born in Ajirkot – 1, Dhansira and got married at the age of 18. Our family was huge with 2 brothers and 3 sisters. I was confined to housework from a young age, and after marriage, my family responsibilities increased.  From our farming/agriculture we can have food for 6 months only. I got pregnant for the first time when I was 20 years old.  During pregnancy I didn’t get enough food.  Family members didn't know what nutritious food was. The health facility was not near; I hardly got health check-up 2/3 times. The mother-in-law was good with kind heart but there was no other source of income without working.  There was not much problem in cleanliness. Gurung community cooperated with each other and the situation in neighborhood was fine, but due to lack of knowledge about nutrition, they did not know what is nutritional food and supplementary food which is necessary during pregnancy. As time passed, my first child, a daughter, was born. At the time of the birth of second child (son), the situation was a little different, my husband had gone abroad, although he was far away from taking care of me, he had some income, it was easier to have better food than before. However, the nutrition required during pregnancy and delivery was not enough and proper. Gradually, the family's financial situation improved. (I gave birth to both children at home as there was no health facility nearby)

After the Dhansira Nutrition Literacy Class was conducted

When I heard that the health hygiene and nutrition literacy class has started in Dhansira, after consulting my mother-in-law and my husband who is abroad, I also started participating in the class. I learned how to keep the body healthy and to avoid various diseases caused by malnutrition.  I know very well now the food required during pregnancy and feeding period.  How mother could make supplementary food needed for the child after six months with locally available product like grain, pulses, ,  we got to know everything about the things we should mix in our daily food, when pregnant  leafy vegetables etc.  And about the regular vaccinations as well as health examination.  I am very happy to come to this class now and get to know and learn everything. I have a shop in my house, but I have stopped letting my children eat any food that is packed in plastic such as instant noodles, biscuits, cheese balls, potato chips with monosodium glutamate etc. Instead, I tell other small children too not to eat junk food. There are many sisters who do not understand like me.  Such programs should be conducted in every community, I feel that whatever happened in our time, the future of our children should be better.  Every parent should have knowledge on health, sanitation and nutrition for wellness of the children and themselves.

September 2023

Ghyachchok, Dhanasira, Ajirkot Rural Municipality -1

Gorkha