About us
Journey From Saving Lives to Nurturing Healthy Generations
Aastha Children’s Hospital to Grow Well Centre
Dear Parents,
The foundation of your child’s growth, intelligence, optimal development, survival, and lifelong health is built during the first 1000 days of life – from pregnancy to 2 years of age.
During this critical window, your child needs proper health care, balanced nutrition, loving care and bonding, a stimulative environment, and right guidance – which are essential for developing to his/her full potential.
Let’s work together to help your child grow healthy, strong, and intelligent – becoming a healthy adult and passing this legacy to future generations.
– Dr. Praveen Khapekar
2002: The Beginning of Care
Aastha Children Hospital founded in 2002 with aim of providing cost-effective quality care for ill newborns and children has grown to become one of the most trusted child healthcare institutions in Central India. From the very beginning, we have dedicated ourselves to hard work, innovation and continuous improvement ensuring comprehensive care for newborns and children. Over the past 22 years, we have saved more than 20,000 babies, including the landmark case of a 490-gram baby born at 26 weeks – a first in Central India.
2013: Expanding to Mother and Child Care
In 2013, we expanded our services to include maternity care, providing holistic, cost-effective services for both mothers and babies to optimize the long term outcome of premature babies.
2014: Beyond Saving Lives
Our journey extended beyond saving lives. Addressing the rising challenges in child physical and mental health issues as our OPD practice grew, we observed that more than 30% babies are born with low birth weight, one out of two patients have physical and mental health issues such as underweight, stunting, obesity, micronutrient deficiencies, anemia, and various mental health challenges including ADHD, autism, learning difficulties and non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes, asthma, cardiac diseases, osteoporosis and cancer were on the rise among children. Parents were frustrated and felt helpless as their children’s health and nutrition status deteriorated. We did research to find out the cause of poor health of children focused on the first 1000 days of life – from conception through the first two years. Our findings were clear: inadequate nutrition, care, and health services during the first 1000 days led to poor physical and brain development, setting the stage for lifelong health challenges. The opportunity to correct these issues is limited after the first two years and most of the parents do not know about the importance of first 1000 days of life for child’s future health, intelligence and diseases.
2018: Mission
We established Dr. Khapekar’s Grow Well Baby’s 1,000 Days Mission to nurturing healthy generations. Driven by our research and commitment to improving child health, this initiative aims to educate and empower parents and society about the critical importance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life in shaping future health, intelligence, and disease prevention. Through seminars and workshops, we guide parents on building a strong foundation for their child’s future with proper nutrition, care and stimulation from pre-pregnancy and pregnancy to the first two years and beyond. Ourmission is dedicated to making this essential knowledge practical and accessible, helping families raise healthier, smarter generations.
2019: 1000 Days Centre
Dr. Khapekar’s Grow Well Baby’s 1,000 Days Center for Child Growth, Nutrition and Care is the first of its kind in India, dedicated to helping and guiding parents in nurturing healthy, intelligent children. The center offers preventive and promotive health services, nutritional counseling and expert guidance to parents starting from pre-pregnancy and pregnancy to the first two years of life, as well as through childhood and adolescence. The impact of these efforts extends beyond individual children and families, contributing to healthier communities, boosting productivity, and enhancing the economic prospects of the nation as a whole.
Our Vision Beyond Treatment: To create a healthier society by empowering parents with knowledge and providing accessible innovative solutions to nurture healthy generations.