One of the girls who is connected with Manav Sadhna and ESI had her 30th birthday this week - she has actually become a dear friend of mine. Anyways, for her birthday gift Jayeshbhai found 30 pregnant women in the slum - most of whom were on their 3rd, 4th pregnancy, not very spaced out etc. We brought them to the ESI center, welcomed them, took their blood to get tested, fed them, and then had a doctor speak to them. I was helping run things when they were testing the blood...and there was this woman who kept switching spots to avoid getting drawn! I finally got her up and in the seat, and had to have her hold my hand in order to allow us to draw her blood! And this woman has already had 2 kids! I can't imagine how a blood draw is more painful than childbirth!!! Yet once she squeezed my hand in pain, I had to admit it must have hurt her quite a bit (at least psychologically) in order for her to squeeze as hard as she did! After lunch a local doctor came to talk to the women. She is the doctor that serves the slum area...really great person. She explained the importance of proper nutrition during pregnancy (especially since many women neglect care after their first few kids), importance of prenatal care, choosing a hospital to deliver at etc. etc. She has worked with these women for many years, and you could tell by the way she was explaining things to them. All of these women will continue to be followed through Manav Sadhna's anganwadi program, through their childbirth and after. The idea is to focus on their health throughout pregnancy, but also try to build a relationship with them to do some family planning education and perhaps convince a few of them to get an operation - which is done for a nominal fee at these hospitals. It was interesting hearing how the system works here - for example, you have to get your paperwork on file at the hospital you want to deliver at beforehand...that's strange to us, but apparently it is doable but nearly impossible to do at the time! Very heartwarming gift for Meghna!
Tuberculosis is widespread in the slum. I was unaware of how common it is in India! People with TB walk around the streets like it's no big deal - nothing like back at home! Anyways, there is this DOTS program - Direct Observation Treatment Shortcourse (http://www.tbcindia.org/) which is now widespread in India and around the world which basically function to ensure that patients take their complete treatment regimen (after people start feeling better they stop their medications, leading to multi-drug resistance). Once a patient is diagnosed with TB, they start treatment at a DOTS center...the place to take the medications is at a location convenient and walking distance from their house, open at times that they are available, and be a place they are comfortable going. There is a DOTS center right across from the community center at the Ramapir no tekro...we met with the woman who runs that center - very dedicated and knowledgeable about TB, the system set in place, and her patients. The website mentioned above is worth taking a look at - this program is incredible, especially for something put together and functioning in a third world country such as this...amazing how far its brought us in TB control. Anyways, it seems like TB is widespread in the tekra, yet the number of cases being detected is low. This is partly due to lack of awareness, denial, and stigma. So, we have decided to try to launch some type of campaign to increase awareness in the tekra. We met with this director who is absolutely brilliant about putting together a drama about TB to present in various neighborhoods in the tekra. This is definitely a work in progress, but I am very excited about this program because it is right in line with my public health background and training! Plus it is a very important issue to address, so I am glad I will be able to dedicate some time to this cause.
On Saturday we went to the Leper Community to plant some trees that are much needed there. It was more of a symbolic visit, but it gave everyone a chance in the community to talk about any pending issues, like the gutterline that needs to be finished in order for the toilets to drain. It was also Ganesh Chaturthi that day, so we were there for the stapna (where the bring in an icon of God in the form of Ganesha for 10 days before they put the murti into the river). And now there will be a tree in the community named Roma :)
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