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 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
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
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
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
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!
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
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
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
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
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
Rural Sensitization Programs (RSP) are 3-day camps organized for medical students to explore alternative approaches to healthcare, discuss current issues and also reflect on their role as contributors to the health of our country. Here are two detailed take-aways. By Shubham Verma, University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi “When I saw the brochure of … Continue reading YOUNG DOCTORS, STRONG VOICES – PART I
Until a few months back, when I saw parents coming in with really sick children but not looking concerned enough, it was unbelievable. Since our clinics are located in remote villages, we sometimes need to refer the patient to a hospital better equipped to handle some severe cases. The doctor tells the parents, “This child … Continue reading Dying Children and Dead Living Rooms
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
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
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”
घटना पाँच महीने पहले की ही है। दो साल के नन्हे केशव (परिवर्तित नाम) को बेडावल के अमृत क्लिनिक में लाया गया (जो सबसे नज़दीकी तहसील सलूम्बर से 25 किमी और उदयपुर से तक़रीबन 100 किमी दूर है)। केशव को गंभीर निमोनिया था और उसे फ़ौरन देखभाल की ज़रूरत थी। क्लिनिक की युवा नर्स शाइस्ता … Continue reading तलाश अपनी पहचान की: शाइस्ता का खूबसूरत सफ़र
Five months ago, Keshav (name changed), a two-year-old boy was brought to Amrit clinic Bedawal (located 25 km from the nearest Tehsil Salumbar, and almost 100 kms from Udaipur), by his parents. He was suffering from severe pneumonia and needed immediate care. Sahista, a primary healthcare nurse at the clinic, tried her best to save … Continue reading On Women’s “Day From searching for support to becoming a pillar of one: Sahista’s beautiful journey of self-discovery”
“यहां आने के बाद मैं बिल्ली से शेर बन गई” । यह थे प्रेमिला के शब्द जिन्होंने हमे रोमांच से भर दिया। (स्वयं के लिए एक स्मरण करने योग्य बिंदु:: वही सामाजिक जंगल जो हम महिलाओं को बिल्ली का आकार देती है, हमें शेरनी भी बना सकती है!) इस डर से आत्मविश्वास के परिवर्तन का … Continue reading प्रेमिला : स्वास्थ्य और खुशहाली, अपने अंदर की महिला की भी
Yahan aane ke baad main billi se sher ban gayi (after I came here, I turned from being a cat to a lion). Stirring words by Premila. (Note to self: the very social jungle that shapes us women into kittens can also lion-ize us!). For her transition from fear to confidence, Premila credits the challenges … Continue reading On Women’s Day ‘Nurse-ing the spirit: Premila’s story’
