2 in Pune, India
Baldasan Care Centre for Malnourished Children below the Poverty Line
From BODHI Times 32
While communication with the Dapodi Clinic in Pune, India is being improved, BODHI’s funds (A$3,000/US$2,492) will be used for a six-month project in the Ramnagar and Ghosavi slums of Hadapsar (East Pune). Included are vaccination of 0-5 year olds, provision of daily nutrition supplements for 50 malnourished children 1½-5-year-olds and monthly weighing and health checks for 0-5-year-olds. This project has the advantage of using an existing infrastructure, the jeep, the doctor, the administration, and of a more direct line of communication.
'We have been working in the area with a mobile clinic doing vaccinations for over a year, and so are familiar with the area and its problems,' Dh Lokamitra says. 'A proper hut will give us the opportunity not only to do what we are doing more effectively but also to do much more, as well as to assess whether we should work in the area on a long-term basis. Our health workers are women are from the local slums so they know the situation and can follow up. They have good basic education, and the doctor gives them basic training.'
In these slums live approximately 30,000 people, almost half of whom are children. While dwellers include Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Muslims, most are originally Dalits (Hindus formerly known as Untouchables). Most have migrated from eastern Maharashtra in time of drought or from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar due to poverty. 'Most, if employed, are drivers, sellers of scrap, masons, painters, blacksmiths, washer women and men, housecleaners etc,' Dh Lokamitra says. 'There are severe educational and health problems. In terms of health basically they are very poor, ignorant, living in extremely unhygienic conditions with little or no help from the government or NGOs. In terms of education, adult literacy will be minimal especially for women; there is little in the way of kindergarten education available, which means they get a very poor start.
'Thirty per cent of the houses are mud, 25% tin sheds and 25% brick and cement. Only 10% have solid roofs. Ninety per cent have no running water and use common taps outside. Most have no toilets, but use government-built common toilets.'
Budget for 6 months: Total IRs/-90,000 Rent 9,000
2 health workers 12,000
Cook 6,000
Nurse 18,000
Food supplements for 50 children 40,000
Fuel & travelling costs 5,000
BODHI would like to add health education, including in health awareness camps. 'These work with local mothers on matters such as family planning, breast feeding, anaemia, cleanliness and treatment of diarrhoea,' Dh Lokamitra says. 'These also differ according to season. In the monsoon they talk more about water.'
2005
Dapodi
Clinic, Pune, India
In
2005, Colin
visited the Dapodi Clinic, in Pune, India. This serves the people
of a nearby slum of 85,000 people. It also provides health outreach
to nearby villagers. He was impressed by the doctor, Mrs. Kalpna
Gadlingkar, who worked in the clinic for about a quarter of the
salary could she could earn in private practice.
We
have donated A$3000/US$2130 to the support this Clinic. Anemia
is a major health problem, along with TB and HIV/AIDS. Currently,
all pathology tests require a visit to the nearby hospital, which
can result in a delay of many hours. In practice, such tests are
rarely performed. To make this easier we are hoping to purchase
and donate a portable hemoglobinometer, specifically designed
for low cost and portable use in developing countries.
This
was developed by Dr Roy Rickman, (http://www.diamedica.co.uk/products.htm)
who (like Colin) is a graduate of the London School of Hygiene
and Tropical Medicine. Running costs for this instrument are low,
and all the chemicals needed are locally available. Its cost is
660 pounds sterling.
Your
support makes a difference.
There is much else that can be done. We hope this is the start
of a long and beneficial relationship.
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Above: Baldasan Care Centre
Below:
Boy
in Hostel
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