Despite being taught in class that 70% of Indians live in rural communities, until Saturday I could have been convinced that India (or at least Southern India) was just one large city. I had only seen the bustling city streets with the constant stream of rickshaws, busses, pedestrians, cars and ox-carts, small homes and business piled atop one another and the constant presence of people - no green space. Today, however, I was exposed to rural India... and I now understand why people fall in love with this country. The cloudy, yet pale blue sky - unobstructed by anything taller than a large tree - seemed to go on forever and the land was a lush green with a patchwork of fields, rolling hills and small mountains - and even a handful of large rivers. It was absolutely beautiful. Even if I had a camera with a lens 6-feet wide, I couldn't possibly capture the true essence of the rural Indian landscape. The road was so narrow, that our large bus was unable to travel the roads very quickly, and in places it was a one-lane partially dirt road... it was legitimately rural. Which here, means the presence of tribal people (like indigenous people at home).
We visited Saragur - where SVYM has a secondary care hospital (a general hospital with the essential specialties - such as pediatrician, OB-GYN, ear-nose-throat, etc.) for the tribal population. It was a very clean, highly organized and seemingly efficient hospital. They seem to make every effort to care for the patient as well as to provide services to ensure patient adherence to treatment methods - through emotional, psychological support and providing subsidized, affordable medications. They also emphasize prevention, and look at each patient as a person - not just as an illness - and attempt to heal the cause of the illness, rather than treat the symptoms. Interestingly, one of the orthopaedic surgeon's has a passion for sanitation - and has built an "environmental park" behind the hospital which demonstrates the different toilets that are available at all different price points for use in tribal communities. Even today, not all tribals have access to toilets in their communities - let alone in their own homes. The cutest though, were the children of the "Vivekananda School of Excellence" - a tribal elementary school behind the hospital. They were so adorable, all dressed in their uniforms, and were very excited to show us their English - and we were excited to show them our Kannada! Brave little boys and shy little girls were clambering to have us take their picture (most have never "seen themselves" on a digital camera before) and ask us our names. Seriously, they were some of the most adorable children I've ever seen.
We visited Saragur - where SVYM has a secondary care hospital (a general hospital with the essential specialties - such as pediatrician, OB-GYN, ear-nose-throat, etc.) for the tribal population. It was a very clean, highly organized and seemingly efficient hospital. They seem to make every effort to care for the patient as well as to provide services to ensure patient adherence to treatment methods - through emotional, psychological support and providing subsidized, affordable medications. They also emphasize prevention, and look at each patient as a person - not just as an illness - and attempt to heal the cause of the illness, rather than treat the symptoms. Interestingly, one of the orthopaedic surgeon's has a passion for sanitation - and has built an "environmental park" behind the hospital which demonstrates the different toilets that are available at all different price points for use in tribal communities. Even today, not all tribals have access to toilets in their communities - let alone in their own homes. The cutest though, were the children of the "Vivekananda School of Excellence" - a tribal elementary school behind the hospital. They were so adorable, all dressed in their uniforms, and were very excited to show us their English - and we were excited to show them our Kannada! Brave little boys and shy little girls were clambering to have us take their picture (most have never "seen themselves" on a digital camera before) and ask us our names. Seriously, they were some of the most adorable children I've ever seen.
Our second stop was the main tribal school - located in Hosalli. We were served an authentic Indian meal - even ate sitting on the floor - in the dining hall with the children. I'm really beginning to get the hang of eating with my fingers! It's monsoon season right now, so naturally we got caught in an absolute downpour on our way to see the school itself. Out of nowhere, the rain just crashes down - and then it becomes sunny just as suddenly. It was a nice campus with an innovative curriculum. To encourage tribals to send their children to school, the school also teaches the basics of tribal living - mostly through agriculture and farming, where the students actually grow the vegetables that are eaten in the school cafeteria.
Our final stop was Kenchenahalli - where I will be placed for six weeks. Needless to say, I was really nervous. SVYM has a primary care hospital (10-beds) serving the local tribal people in Kenchenahalli. Here, they believe in a holistic approach to health care - using both modern western medicine and traditional Indian medicine, known as Ayurveda (which will be my primary focus). Thankfully, the hospital is adorable, there are plenty of other people going to be living on campus and the doctors are passionate, enthusiastic and eager to help me to learn. Dr. Dennis (one of the western medicine doctors) said that I will "be like a child at first - I will need to learn how to crawl before I can walk, and then how to walk before I can run - then I will be comfortable in Kenchenahalli." I really am looking forward to the experience. It just might change my life.
The main hospital... it even has an elephant "moat" around the building to keep the wild elephants out of the building! It's apparently pretty rare, but the hospital is situated in a National Park, so they are seen around the campus frequently.
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