Namaste-
I know it has been a while since I last updated my blog. However, I do have a good excuse for not responding to emails and updating my blog. I have been working like a mad woman creating presentation materials, holding health groups, lectures, and other project related things. The next few posts will be a bit boring, but they will update you on what I have been doing. As mentioned below, one of the projects I have been working on is raising awareness and educating rural women about unnecessary hysterectomies. Yesterday, Julie (one of the HELP volunteers) and I went to Sangareddy to meet with the District Collector of Medak. The purpose of this meeting was to raise awareness about the issue and ask the District Collector to release one of CARPED’s posters. Unfortunately, Julie and I did not bring a camera to the meeting, but I must say that the District Collector was incredibly intimidating. I am not sure if it was the lighting, the format of the room, or his personality that made me and Julie very nervous. Don’t worry, the presentation went well and the District Collector is planning to release the poster within the next few days. In addition to releasing the poster, the District Collector wants CARPED (the NGO that HELP is partnering with) to develop a health plan for women who have undergone an unnecessary hysterectomy. Victory! I know, this post is very short and is probably missing a few important details. Perhaps in the future I will fill in the blanks. Tomorrow I will post about the women's health group.
P.S. I love India, but the monkeys are a bit out of control. There are a couple of monkeys who come visit our house every so often and create havoc. Posted above is a picture of the monkey who keeps biting off the installation of one of the A/C units. She may look harmless in that photo, but she is vicious!
The Tippy Tap Health Education Project
After building our first tippy tap as a pilot study to assess the best way to educate the residents in the slums in response to reducing deadly diarrheal diseases, our team realized that we needed to go beyond just building the tippy taps to educating these individuals and families on the basic healthy hygiene practices.
For the remainder of our time here, we will be partnering with SAPED, a local NGO, in conducting health education classes for the residents within the slums. Some of the educational material includes, germs, germ transmission, proper hand washing techniques, how to build and maintain a tippy tap and diarrheal as well as other infectious easily transmitted diseases.
During the process of holding these education classes we will be training local health leaders to hold theses health education classes to the point that they are able to confidently carry the remaining classes out while we are there supporting and evaluating the progress and needs of our project.
By the end of this project our goal is to have SAPED to be able to sustain and continue to train health educators on this project and who will then have the skills necessary to educate other rural areas throughout India in building Tippy Taps and holding the health education classes.
Diarrheal and other infectious diseases are completely preventable by simply washing hands with soap and water. Let’s make a difference one tippy tap at a time through Public Health work.
-JS and MC
Every day in India almost a thousand children die from diarrhea. The sad part about this statistic is that nearly all of these diseases could have been prevented by one thing: soap. HELP International is hoping to reduce the number of these deaths by building the Tippytap in the slums. The Tippytap is a revolutionary, simple idea that promotes hand washing in rural communities. The best part about this product is that anyone can make it because it is made of sticks, string, a plastic container, a nail, and a match. If you would like to learn more, please watch the video posted below. This is public health!
One of the projects the HELP International India team is extremely excited about is the soilet project. Currently in India more people have access to a cell phone than they do a toilet. As a result, you have houses in slums or rural villages that have cell phone towers or satellite dishes but no toilet. As a result, many women, men, and children use the streets as their own personal toilet (See video posted below). If you need more proof, I will happily post pictures of people urinating on the street. No, I am not actively looking to take pictures of people urinating, they are photo bombing my photos.
As you can imagine, the open defecation and urination have made traveling and running through the city a complete pleasure. However, one does get use to the smell…eventually. Luckily, HELP International has a solution to this problem, which is the soilet!
According to Sean (the team lead), a soilet is a toilet system that eliminates disease-causing waste disposal. These innovative toilet systems separate solid from liquid waste, composting the two elements into clean and nutrient enriched dirt. These systems—appropriately named “Soilets”—will significantly improve the poor sanitation conditions that contaminate the water supply. The possibility for these toilets is endless! They can significantly reduce the exposure of children to diarrheal diseases, and therefore reduce the number of preventable deaths. This project is what public health is all about, which is prevention of illnesses. HELP International India is hoping to start building the first soilet in a few days. The location will be posted later, but I can tell you that the locals are ecstatic!
Well, I promise to post soon. Namaste.
On the bright side...Melissa, Seth, and I were able to take a picture with the yoga master and met a cute little girl.
Well, I have all summer to work on these poses. By the time I come home I will have truly earned the title of "Twisty, bobcat pretzel."
Over the past few days, HELP International has had the opportunity to meet and work with the non-profit organization known as LEPRA. Over the course of two days, LEPRA took me and other volunteers to several of their clinics. At these clinics we were able to see the physical effects that tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and leprosy have on the people of India. Casey Bahr, one of the volunteers with HELP International, took the pictures posted below.
Here is a picture of a woman who contracted HIV/AIDS from her husband and then developed TB several months later. She is underweight and suffers from lethargy, but is in good spirits. Hopefully, someone somewhere will find a cure for HIV/AIDS. The doctor believes that this patient will live a long life as long as she continues to take her medication for TB and HIV.
This is a picture of woman who had lost several toes to leprosy. Unfortunately, leprosy causes a person to lose feeling in their hands and feet. As a result of this, the woman could not feel the ulcers developing on her feet. Eventually, her toes retracted back into her foot and now she only has 3 toes. Unfortunately, there is such discrimination and stigma associated with leprosy that it prevents people from seeking out treatment. Had this woman sought treatment earlier, there is a strong possibility that she would still have all of her toes.
Before coming to India, I had heard about leprosy but it was not something I paid attention to because it is not prevalent in the developed world. This experience at this clinic has really opened my eyes to the fact that people are suffering from diseases that are preventable and treatable. LEPRA truly is an amazing non-profit organization. The employees do not work in the best conditions, nor do they get paid a lot of money. Regardless of these facts, these employees and volunteers continue to come to work every day because they want to improve the quality of life of others. I am honored that I have the opportunity to help them achieve their goals for the country of India. Enclosed is the link for LEPRA if you would like to learn more.
I cannot believe that I have officially been in India for a week. It has been quite the cultural experience. We live in a cozy flat located in the city of Secunderbad, which is a sister city to Hyderabad. Initially Secunderbad and Hyderabad were separate cities, but as the population grew the cities became one. There is so much to blog about that I have decided to divide it into three different sections: the house, Golconda fort, and projects.
The House:
When I first arrived in India, I thought that we would be living in a tiny apartment with two rooms and maybe two bathrooms. Little did I know that the flat that HELP International rented out was a little larger. There are four bedrooms in the house, two bathrooms, and a squatter (which I eventually destroyed, but that’s a story for another day). Initially, the girls were in three of the rooms and the boys took one room. We survived the heat by using old swamp coolers and fans. However, once we got two air conditioning units all the girls crammed into two rooms. No longer are we suffering from night sweats haha. Unfortunately, the boys got the short end of the stick and have to sleep on the roof to get relief from the heat. Oh well, I’m sure it is somewhat like camping. Who doesn’t want to camp?
Don't they look like they are enjoying sleeping outside?
Golconda fort:
Since the majority of the group arrived on a Saturday, the country directors (Seth and Melissa) thought that it would be fun to use the “free” day to visit Golconda fort. One of the sister’s in the ward has connections and got us a free tour of the fort. The fort is over 800 years old and is absolutely breathtaking—Seinfeld anyone? Anyways, here are a few pictures of me and the group at Golconda fort.
This is one of the sister's cute daughters
Projects:
Over the past week, the group and I have had the opportunity to meet with several nonprofit organizations throughout Hyderabad. There are so many amazing projects that the group and I have the opportunity to work on. This summer, I have been assigned to help lead the hysterectomy and LEPRA project. In addition, I will be helping with the lost children project, MVF bridge school, soilets, and TB. The hysterectomy project focuses on the increasing problem of young women who are being tricked into getting hysterectomies by “quack” doctors. Most often times these hysterectomies are done improperly and these women suffer physical problems for the rest of their lives. Eventually, their inability to work and bear children causes their husbands to leave them. It is the goal of HELP International to reduce the number of women who receive unnecessary hysterectomies.
Another project that I am extremely honored to be a part of is called Lost Children. It is estimated that there are 8 million lost children in the country of India. The majority of these children have either been abducted, trafficked, or simply separated from their parents. The lost children project hopes to reunite many of these separated children and parents, as well as reduce the number that have been trafficked or abducted. To help put this problem into perspective, below is a clip from MTV’s EXIT video, which focuses on the issue of child labor and human trafficking.
P.S. This incredibly attractive flier was outside our house. Enjoy.
Howdy,
Welcome to my wonderful blog! I created this blog so that you can follow me as I work and live in India. This summer I have an amazing opportunity to work with a non-profit organization called HELP International. Over the next three and a half months I will have the opportunity to improve the quality of life in India through PUBLIC HEALTH! Yes, my love for public health required that it be capitalized in the previous sentence. A few projects that HELP International will be working on include anti-human trafficking, sanitation, nutrition, and education.
For those of you who don't know me, my name is Melanie Chao. I am currently a student at BYU majoring in public health. I love BYU, but I am a Notre Dame fan at heart. Go Fighting Irish!
I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I have to serve in India this summer. Hopefully I will finish packing before the sun comes up. If not, my flight plans may have to change. I am kidding, but I finally understand why people dislike packing so much. Haha. See you soon!
P.S. I posted a thought provoking, interesting, and well produced youtube video below. Let the mind blowing begin!
