Graduation Ceremony!!

After the completion of the four week course on Understanding the Jamkjed method (I don't really like to call it a model because it's more of a methodology) we had a ceremony. For everyone here, at CRHP, I believe it was a bit of an emotional ceremony specifically because this was the first ceremony after the passing of Dr. Raj Arole, one of the founders of CRHP. Dr. Raj Arole passed away earlier this summer before the start of the program. It is so unfortunate that we did not have the privilege of meeting him.

His daughter, Dr. Shobha lead the ceremony. It was a moving ceremony where she gave us such encouraging words.  Dr. Shobha urged us to always remember the people first, to focus on being scholars, to use our brains and to not fall into the trap of academia. I must admit I felt so motivated and ready to face anything after her memorable speech. We each were called by name and given a garland, a scarf, a candle holder, and a certificate of completion.

This course will definitely help me define and finalize my place in health care!

~~~~~


Dr. Raj Arole Obituary

Waterfall Weekend Trip

These are a few pictures taken at one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Jamkhed, India.

Cost Effective Health Care

Hospital visits with Dr. Shobha are always interesting. We see such interesting cases throughout the day. The CRHP Hospital is not like a typical hospital that exists in a lot of other places. Relatives play a major role in patient care; they bring food for the patient, support them and come to visit all throughout the day. The patients’ relatives help the nurses in patient care, which improves the healing process and allows for earlier discharge. What CRHP tries to implement is called Cost-effective Secondary Care.

I feel as if US hospitals are turning into a huge profit-generating machine. Many doctors put patients through unnecessary tests and expensive drugs resulting in their personal benefit or profits. In the CRHP Hospital, the pharmacy only keeps the WHO list of essential drugs and nothing too expensive. When people need further treatment, they are usually referred to a hospital. With this the Doctors have to know the cost of drugs and lab tests to choose the most cost-effective treatments for patients.

The medical personnel believe in people’s potential and try to demystify medicine. One surgery assistant that Dr. Shobha really trusts performs better than a lot of trained nurses and he only has a fourth grade education. Patients are charged on a sliding scale based on income. Only emergent cases such as Cesarian, burn victims, surgeries, snake bites and more are admitted to the hospital. Most of the care for regular ailments are addressed at home by trained Village Health Workers.

The hospital is certain that this is the best way, for them, to be able to provide low cost and efficient health care for patients that come in.

TTYS.

The Plight of Women in Jamkhed

Your worst day could be someone's best day...

After hearing personal stories from the women that work with CRHP, I had to take a step back and think about my life and the women surrounding me.  I realized the importance of having faith and more importantly, to never lose that faith.

The level of oppression the women face in this culture is indescribable. Women are thought to be worthless. Even within the social caste system, in India, the women are beneath the untouchables.

Many Village Health Workers ("VHW") shared their stories with us. One of the stories that struck me the most was of a Shudra woman whose family couldn't gather enough money for her dowry. They finally found someone who agreed to marry her without a dowry. She was married at the age of fifteen and moved to Mumbai to live with her husband and his family. Within the first six months she was pregnant. Her husband was constantly sick so she had to take care of her husband and her baby. Her husband got so sick, she had to take him to the hospital where it was discovered that he had HIV/AIDS. He died shortly after the diagnosis. She later found out that both she and her baby were HIV positive. With this news, her in-laws did not allow her to stay with them. They believed she caused their son’s death. She tried to return to her parents but was no longer welcomed there as well. She and her baby were homeless. Eventually finding a job as a manual laborer, during the day she left her child unattended inorder to go to work. After a few weeks of the same routine, one evening she returned from a long work day to find her son dead. Feeling desolate, she attemped suicide many different times. A VHW found her and took her to the CRHP Hospital. She was very thin and sick with symptoms of HIV. She was nursed back to health at the CRHP Hospital. CRHP has greatly cared for her has prescribed a regimen of antiretroviral drugs for the past four years. Currently, she is working as a Manager on the CRHP farm.

 With the help of CRHP, she has regained confidence in life and her health. She is encouraging other people with HIV/AIDS and young girls about the plight of women in their villages.

We see these Ladies throughout our days in Jamkhed. Each one has a story to tell. Each has overcome some kind of abuse or life obstacle, yet they are still smiling and living life to its fullest. The language barrier is invisible. The very little Marathi I speak nor the little English they speak desn't hamper our understanding of each other.  It is enough for us to understand each other - woman to woman. Her story is one of many I have heard. The women struggle everyday for their wellfare, well being, and to earn their respect. While they have conquered much, there is a long road to travel. I realize that as a woman I take many of my civil liberities for granted. I now see things through different eyes.

TTYS.

No Truer Words...

I can truly say I know what this quote means. No truer words have ever been spoken.

TTYS!

~~~

Quote By: Konrad Adenauer

Picture Credit: Flickr

A Wonderful Surprise

I told you guys of the sanitation issues in India last week, so you can imagine my surprise when I came across this!!!

Most probably one of the best bathrooms I have seen. The toilet situation here in India leaves much to be desired. To be honest - It's pretty disturbing.

This restroom is a luxury reserved for those of a certain caste. The poor will never see the like of this bathroom. They instead defecate on the side of the road. I am careful to avoid the feces on my morning run. Sanitation is a big issue here.

While you may not be able to tell by the picture, it's actually very clean. It's an interesting take on the modern latrine.

Thoughts?

TTYS!

Fortunate

Although I have traveled and been on semi long vacations, I have never traveled, alone, to a foreign country for so long. I have grown so much and most importantly gained the strengh and confidence to venture to India if the opportunity presents itself. I genuinely believe that I have pushed my confidence further then ever before. Away from my comfort zone and my support system, I've had the opportunity to be the Nadege that I say and believe I am. I see the values/morals that will be with me wherever I go and have also taken note of the ones that I need to work on.

It is very easy to forget how fortunate you are. I'm thankful for this time and experience.  It has brought to light the things I need to appreciate in my life.

Observing the people of Jamkhed has shown me what selflessness and true happiness are. Despite a troubled life of many obstacles and set backs the people have had, they continue to live with such joy and determination.

 I truly believe that I am exactly where I am suppose to be. I know much more about cultural and social barriers. I feel much more prepared, mentally, for my career path. I am prepared to welcome whatever challenges, changes and opportunities that come my way. This has been an enriching experience thus far.

Donate To The Cause

If you notice on the side bar there is a new link to foster donations to CRHP in Jamkhed, India. I urge you to please make a donation to the cause. Your funds will go towards the growth and development of life saving medical programs in India.

Based on what I've seen, the villages and surrounding areas are in great need of this help. This cause is now very close to my heart.

Please remember that every little bit helps.

Link: To Donate

Thanks so much!

My Observations on India's Issue Of Sanitation

Every Monday we go out and visit one of the villages around Jamkhed town. CRHP does not do their work in Jamkhed town because its mission is to serve the poorest of the poor. The majority of the project villages are in remote areas where no one wants to serve.

I am going to try to paint a picture for you of what the villages look like....

In the first village there were many small huts scattered around. The houses made from cement or bricks are for the people of a higher caste. Human and animal feces lined the sides of the roads; no drainage system, no house has a toilet. The wells are only located near the brick homes. In the second village most of the houses were built of brick and cement. Soak pits are built along the road to eliminate stagnant run-off water. the roads are pretty clean. Approximately half of the homes had toilets. but what was very interesting was that due to lack of space inside the homes, some built toilets on their rooftop!

If you ask anyone what is the biggest obstacle in helping the villages progress it is a unanimous response - SANITATION! Toilets more specifically. It's a concern that the villagers have a hard time adjusting to. This I think has to do with the culture itself.

First, you would have to understand the caste system in India. The lowest caste does the dirty work - the work that no one else wants to do. Therefore, if you as a higher caste member (example Brahmin) have a toilet in your home, who would clean it? No one wants to clean the toilet so it is easier to use a bucket and take care of your "business" in the open air. While I hear conditions have improved there are still many improvements to be made.

Is there an easy answer or solution? I personally think, for sanitary purposes, the western toilets would not be the best solution. A modern version of latrines would be best and prevent the spread of infections.


~~~~~
Photo Source: Sanitation Update

Reflection On What I Have Learned Thus Far

CRHP has planted a seed in me regarding community health based work. Community health was not really introduced to me until I took the Global Health course at Mount Sinai. I am seeing, first hand, the benefits of Community Health Programs during my stay here in India.

Coming from a developing country, Haiti, I completely understand the need and necessity for programs like CRHP. Such programs help the poor and marginalized to progress and develop on their own.

Other than the well known anthropologist, Paul Farmer, I have not heard of individuals doing this type of Global work in flew eloping nations and succeeding. I am completely sure that there have been NGOs that have attempted to do some work in various regions of Haiti and India; the problem is that many come for a few months then pack up and leave. They leave with their supplies and knowledge, thus leaving impoverished residents with nothing - incomplete interventions or projects. The common denominator in each case/country is lacking. The missing and most important ingredient is compassion. NGOs first need to understand the lives of the people and villages where they are based. Strategic planning coupled with knowledge and observation are essential to growth/progress for all those involved.

My coursework and personal experience thus far, have left me thinking about the subject matter in a more critical manner. There's true benefit to hands on experience!

Food for thought...

Surprise! Mickey Welcomes Me To India

Ughhhhh!!

So there is a mouse in our building. I'm grossed out and a bit disturbed. This is so new to me... Fighting off Mickey Mouse - never in my wildest dreams!

To begin my tale (no pun intended... lol), I was seeing little pellets of poop in the bathroom. The other residents were saying the pellets were from the geckos/lizards. Being that we are in India, the lizards are unavoidable! But on Friday morning, I went into the bathroom and noticed that the drain had moved. I thought that was strange, had some suspicions but shrugged off the weird vibe I got. Just as I thought, my suspicions were confirmed at breakfast. A girl in my building said a mouse ate through her plastic bag and devoured her mango! OMG, I nearly passed out... this is so out of my comfort level. It's all so new. Wow!

Please allow me to have a moment. Just this once...
We are staying in one of the worst buildings in the village!
I'm moving TODAY!
Get FOH!
Everyone knows I can't co-exist with them things (mice)!
Mommy!!!

Now that that's out of my system, I can say lucky for me I always zip up my bags and always sleep with a nightlight on!

I hear Management is putting traps around the building today. Whoa! I'll keep you posted.

The Sights That Have Made Me Go, Hmmm......

I've come across some interesting sights in the two weeks I've been here. My new surroundings have made me appreciate the life I lead in the States. It's a different world!!

The Sights That Have Made Me Go, Hmmm......














Descriptions:
#1 - Main street in one of the neighboring villages
#2 - Pregnant street pig roaming around
#3 - One village's version of a water pump
#4 - Housing in a second village we visited
#5 - Rickshaws (the car) are everywhere
#6 - Can't go anywhere without seeing these thin cows

Yours in total appreciation.
TTYS!

The Breakfast Of Champions

I've been trying to get used to the food here but finding it a bit difficult. Since I've been here, I just have a boiled egg and banana to get my day started. The rice is spicy!

The Breakfast Of Champions:

Getting Acclimated

We went on our first visit to the villages!! It was such an eye opening experience. Villagers were so friendly and welcoming.  Language barrier be damned, we had great conversations with them! Some gave us a tour of their homes while others told us about their children levying the village in order to travel to school in Pune.

It was amazing for me to see that no matter what they had or did not have they were happy and they expressed it. They lived their lives in a manner necessary to maintain a good productive lifestyle. The women were constantly working. To my surprise, although they lived in a poor village some homes had a satellite dish and TV!

The school children were so jovial! They are apparently used to receiving visitors. They harassed us for a "foto" and wanted to examine each picture afterwards. Surprisingly, some of the children were familiar with some English words. Hopefully, with the help of our daily language class, I will soon be able to carry on basic conversation in Marathi.

While I'm still getting acquainted with my surroundings, I took a walk into town yesterday to buy some fabric. A tailor is supposed to take our measurements to make my saree/sari.

It was sort of like and organized mess (reminded me of my closet lol)!! A swarm of blue and white children's uniforms running around and screaming since school had just let out. The cacophony also included honking cars,  motorcycles, mopeds, and the three wheeled cars. Where ever the merchants found space they set up shop for their goods. This is where it gets organized. The fruit merchants were together, bracelets and saris in one area and if needed you could still go into the little shops on each side of the street. We went into this three to four story building. It had a large variety of fabric, saris, and other items of clothing. Each floor was totally saturated with workers or people were just spending their day there. A group of us arrived at a messy counter and had the employees pull out every type of fabric they had - all different colors and patterns. We sensed they were getting a bit overwhelmed and inpatient when we couldn't make up our minds. So it goes... this is the market! It's just what you do - search for the best product for the best price! Another floor above carried and sold saris. We had to remove our shoes since there were mats arranged everywhere. You remove your shoes and basically sit with the merchant of your choice while he/she surrounds you with all these beautiful patterns and colors. The choices are so overwhelming! Side note: Lol, I'm so thankful for bringing a pumus stone! I can't count how many times we have to remove our shoes to walk into a room!

Walking back we stopped and purchased some mangoes to possibly make some shakes. On the walk, I located an eyebrow threading place! This is my top discoveries for the day! When it comes to my eye brows, I have placed my trust in one lady for the last 14 years. Yes, I confess, there have been in between but the results have always ben the same - dissatisfaction and frustration. I'm in INDIA!! So I'm seriously considering getting my eyebrows threaded while I'm here. Live a little. Why not?!? I'll keep you posted.

Hello and Welcome

Howdy! Welcome to my little space in the blogisphere. It's the place where you will find all of my musings as I spend the next two months in Jamkhed, India. I plan to tell you of my teaching adventures, the people, the culture, the food, and any other interesting tid-bits I come across on my journey. I hope you enjoy the ride!

xoxo Na'Dege