Many patients with a range of illnesses walk into our Amrit clinics (rural primary care clinics in tribal south Rajasthan), sharing that they have received cautionary food advice from their traditional healers (‘bhopas’), unqualified providers (often known as ‘Bengalis’), and even qualified doctors at Primary Health Centers (PHCs). They are desperate to find out if … Continue reading Sip or Skip? The Great Khaati Chaach (sour buttermilk) Debate
Let us create a full Circle-of-Care plan for people with Tuberculosis: a lesser approach will not suffice
A month ago a team of nurses, health workers and public health professionals in our team sat down to call Tuberculosis (TB) patients who had not been coming to the clinic for their medicines. For context, the 6 AMRIT Clinics run by Basic Healthcare Services see over 1000 new patients of TB every year. Over … Continue reading Let us create a full Circle-of-Care plan for people with Tuberculosis: a lesser approach will not suffice
Steering their own path
We often equate women empowerment with parameters of obtaining education and employment opportunity. While these hold true, several other factors including ‘lack of freedom of mobility’ can hinder the process or create a dependency on others to fulfil this wish. In cities public transport offers a great medium for women to travel independently. Personally, for … Continue reading Steering their own path
Beyond the Urban Veil: The RSP Experience
I remember we were having a conversation about how important it is To feel. How it is the only constant through life’s tedious journey. So I summed up all I felt during these three life-altering days at RSP! You’re tired. You’re excited. It is a weird mix. You haven’t stepped out of your house alone … Continue reading Beyond the Urban Veil: The RSP Experience
Of Life and Lemons
Some field days are special. This is an account of one such day. After a picturesque and a slightly nauseating ride, I finally reached our AMRIT Clinic in Ghated. It was a typical monsoon afternoon- dark clouds and gentle drizzle. There I was joined by our male health worker, Bheru ji and together we set … Continue reading Of Life and Lemons
Narbada Meena – Nurturing the Next Generation
It takes almost an hour to travel by car from Salumber district town to the Phulwari in Ghated. The road is not very good, but neither is it a dirt track – a tarred, winding road, never losing sight of the Aravali ranges. “That is Mahadev Pahadi,” says Malaram ji, a community coordinator and my … Continue reading Narbada Meena – Nurturing the Next Generation
She who Rides the Tsunami
To me her name does not matter as much as her story does, because it is quintessential story that represents the struggle in the lives of many Adivasi women of southern Rajasthan. In her early thirties now, she was the eldest of a large family of seven siblings, brought up in a tiny hamlet. Her … Continue reading She who Rides the Tsunami
Swagibai Gameti- The Harbinger of Community Health
Swagibai Gameti confidently tells me her address – village Patiya – but falters when I ask her age – perhaps it is forty or fifty, she says with a shrug. Her spontaneous smile is ageless indeed. We are sitting on the roof of the nurse quarter at the Amrit clinic at Morwal, district Udaipur. I … Continue reading Swagibai Gameti- The Harbinger of Community Health
MOVING BEYOND THE TABOOS
There is no doubt that India’s journey in the menstrual health space must be commemorated, especially in the backdrop of the institutional lead provided by the Supreme Court. In April 2023, the Supreme Court recommended the implementation of a ‘uniform national policy’ to provide free sanitary pads to all girls from grades 6 to 12, … Continue reading MOVING BEYOND THE TABOOS
More Than a Day: Committing to a Future of Safe, Joyful and Respectful Motherhood
National Safe Motherhood Day is celebrated on 11th April every year all over India. The day reminds us to refocus our attention on ensuring safe motherhood for all pregnant women, respect and dignity during labour and provide essential care throughout pregnancy, during delivery and even post that. This is the story of Ganga (name changed … Continue reading More Than a Day: Committing to a Future of Safe, Joyful and Respectful Motherhood
Soniya Modiya – The Epitome of Efficiency and Compassion
The huge tamarind tree across the Ghated clinic immediately catches my eye as I get out of the car. The clinic is small and quiet. Even the village has the sleepy look of the later winter morning. A young boy, however, is hanging from the compound wall of the clinic, his toes barely touching the … Continue reading Soniya Modiya – The Epitome of Efficiency and Compassion
Meet our Bhanu Sister: No challenge too great, she is unstoppable!
A small plump, fair woman with an infectious smile and warm hug welcomes us to the PHC at Nithauwa. After the initial greetings we occupy the now-empty training hall to talk. I am immediately taken in by Chandrabhanu’s jolly demeanour. It is her warmth that makes me feel as if we know each other for … Continue reading Meet our Bhanu Sister: No challenge too great, she is unstoppable!
Women who Aspire … and Inspire – Part 2
Civil society organizations often grapple with the challenge of representing their achievements, and fall back on numbers to quantify the elusive dream of social change – the number of malnourished children has reduced to x, and child mortality in the area is down by y – but the significance of some achievements is impossible to … Continue reading Women who Aspire … and Inspire – Part 2
Women who Aspire … and Inspire
Dear Readers, As we anticipate the arrival of Women’s Day, we are excited to continue our tradition of honoring the remarkable women who form the backbone of our organization. These women enrich our lives and communities each day with their unwavering courage, resilience, and determination. However, on this special occasion, we feel compelled to shine … Continue reading Women who Aspire … and Inspire
सोलर की कहानी
सच मे अमृत क्लीनिक में सोलर इन्स्टालेशन एक कहानी सा लगता हैं I दक्षिणी राजस्थान के दूर दराज़ के क्षेत्रों में घर—बिजली-पानी के हालात अच्छे नहीं है, और खास बात यह है कि वहाँ बसे समुदाय को इसकी आदत ही हो गयी है I उन्हे इस बात से कोई खास फर्क नहीं पड़ता है, ना … Continue reading सोलर की कहानी
Shifting Perspectives: Rural Sensitization and the Future of Medical Education
The global health policy agenda emphasizes the need to establish universal healthcare for all. From Alma Ata declaration to Sustainable Development Goals, India’s commitment to Health for All has remained undeterred. It essentially means that all individuals should have access to all kinds of quality health services they need, when and where they need them, … Continue reading Shifting Perspectives: Rural Sensitization and the Future of Medical Education
YOUNG DOCTORS, STRONG VOICES – PART II
REFLECTIONS From the Rural Sensitisation Program held in BHS, Rajasthan. “We are all like those little pieces of Jigsaw puzzles, might seem useless when held alone, but when all these tiny pieces unite, there is a scenery never seen before.” ————————— The Rural Sensitisation Programs have been running since 2017. They have a significant number … Continue reading YOUNG DOCTORS, STRONG VOICES – PART II
On Not Showing Up
It takes effort to put together a resume but more so, to list down your life to achievements, interests and experiences. While listing these down, there’s also a lot of internal loss felt. An attempt to make white out of the rainbow colors (without a prism).And then giving color to the filtered white just so … Continue reading On Not Showing Up
समता, समानुभूति और समभाव हासिल करने की जद्दोजहद
जब हम पहले-पहल किसी काम से जुड़ते हैं, तो वह हमें क्या सिखाता है? समय का प्रबंधन? पैसों का मोल? या दूसरों से जुड़ना, उन्हें साथ जोड़ने का हुनर? पर हमारी किला के पहले औपचारिक काम का पहला पाठ था समता का। दूसरों के बराबर होने के अहसास का। इस अहसास ने अपनी अंदरूनी बेड़ियों … Continue reading समता, समानुभूति और समभाव हासिल करने की जद्दोजहद
On Women’s Day, Kila’s story: ‘‘Personifying equality, empathy and equanimity- One case at a time”
What can a first job teach you? Time management? Value for money? Better networking skills? For Kila, the first lessons in her first formal job were around equality: these helped break her internal shackles and to come into her being. “Bachpan mei mummy school chorne aati thi lekin main school ke bahar baithi rehti thi. … Continue reading On Women’s Day, Kila’s story: ‘‘Personifying equality, empathy and equanimity- One case at a time”