Leaving India

It rained last night, a hard rain that washed the dust from the air and off the leaves. It’s the first day that I can remember smelling the sweet earth free of the heat which bakes away such fragrances long before noon. Today my bags will be packed for the long trip home, back to loved ones and a world that will seem so far from the one I have known for these past 4 weeks. A home filled with new friends and fond memories.

I have fallen in love with this country, its people and all its wonderful texture. My favorite form of transportation is the very 3 wheel rickshaw that had originally thrown my adrenaline system into overdrive. I not only can negotiate with the drivers, but I actually relax and enjoy the ride. And yes, the vote is in… although Delhi traffic is nuts, they are amazingly agile drivers. In my 4 weeks I have not witnessed any major accidents, only near misses. In a city of 14 million, this is truly remarkable.

And let’s not forget the cows, parked anywhere they want to be… in the middle of traffic, shopping centers, or roaming the streets. Throw in a few donkeys, green parrots and monkeys and you get the overall picture of this wonderful place. Yes the temperature is rising, and it will only continue. The weather is not for the faint hearted, and it’s only March. But it won’t stop me from returning to this land of centuryies old tradition combined with the new excitement and energy of a young generation.

I will leave the soil of India behind for now, but my new friends and my memories will be part of my life long after I return home.

Bollywood

In our apartment, the TV is positioned next to the computer screen. As I have typed my journal this past month, Bollywood has been right by my side. Love stories, fight scenes old and new have accompanied me in the evenings. Although it’s all in Hindi, I have enjoyed watching the years of film unfold in front of me.

Today I was a real member of society and went to the movies. My country host raved about the new movie just released last month – Jodhaa Akbar. It’s the true story set in the 16th century about a Muslim ruler who married a Hindu girl to build unity between to areas in India. Apparently this story is still controversial with some groups. I showed-up to the cinema and got some chuckles from the ticket counter when they learned that I did not speak Hindi…. I had to agree it seemed silly. Unlike US theaters, seats are reserved, you actually are assigned a row and seat just as if you were going to a play (I love this). But the food is the same, popcorn, hotdogs (chicken) and Coke. There is a Baskin & Robbins stall and one for steamed corn – I could not resist. The corn cereals are full size, not cut as short as we get in the states. You pick from the flavors to add, Masala, Chinese, Mexican or pepper. I went with the Masala but skipped the chili pepper – what a great snack food for the movies.

Speaking of the movie, oh man, what a movie. Think epic – like Gone With The Wind. They spared no expense, the sets and costumes were extravagant, showcasing the astonishing fabrics of India. The two leading actors are gorgeous… and the leading man has spent serious time at the gym –six packs have arrived in India. Match it with amazing cinematography and acting and well, after 3.5 hours (including intermission)… it leaves you dazzled.

Great care went into the research for this film, historians and universities were given special recognition at the beginning of the film. The story is one of tolerance and peace – which is hard to believe with the amount of sword fighting involved. But from what I could take away – the union of the two individuals was also the start towards unification between the two religious groups. The story is but one of many adaptations to a legend that has changed with time. I know one thing; this is Bollywood at its best, even if you don’t know Hindi, it’s impossible not to be carried away by this film.

Polio Day

March 30th was National Polio Day in India. Unicef, the Rotary International and the Indian Government have teamed-up to eradicate this disease. It’s a united effort, with public and private health care workers joined together to protect the children. It was also a great day to gain further understanding of their national immunization program.

The central government has identified 5 mandatory immunizations that children must receive. They are provided for free at government clinics, but if you go to a private clinic you must pay a small fee. The Indian Academy of Pediatrics has a Committee on Immunization (IAPCOI) which creates the list of recommended childhood vaccines. Unlike the US, TB and Typhoid are on the list. Combination vaccines are available; the cost is significantly more so it’s up to the parent to decide. A list of all recommend vaccines and their prices are provided to parents, along with the timing of the vaccines and alternatives such as injected polio.

There was a news clipping in the pediatricians office: it focused on a recent case of polio in Delhi that was caused by the P1 strain – considered to be the most dangerous. It occurred in a slum, populated by villagers who came to Delhi for work. In 2007 there were two cases of P3 polio, in 2006 seven cases caused by P1. Many physicians are recommending their patients give injectable polio to their children, in addition to the oral. IAPCOI and government officials believe that switching to IPV from oral polio could jeopardize their entire polio program. So doctors recommend both if the parents can afford it.

Although India’s Polio program is ten years old, there were 676 cases in 2006 and 864 in 2007. On polio day, government schools and hospitals administer the vaccine and marked the child’s finger to show they were immunized. The following week, government employees go door-to-door to see if all the eligible children were immunized. They only record the number of doses given, not which children have been immunized. Keeping such detailed information is harder than it appears. Medical records in private offices are the responsibility of the parent, not the physician. If the child received services at a government center, a record will be kept. But migrant workers keep moving, making it hard to keep accurate and complete records on patients.

The goal is the same all over the world, protecting children by preventing disease. Many western countries have access to vaccines and government funding or health insurance helps cover the cost. With most of healthcare in India still out of pocket, most families must absorb the cost. But they do, they know these diseases are still in their community and could claim their child’s life. Westerners have forgotten what these diseases look like, but it’s just a plane ride away. SARS should have been a reminder that with the age of travel, disease can move faster than ever before. Every day I’m grateful for the health I have enjoyed because of the vaccines that have protected me.