Joe and Lotte at the Sambhavna clinic in Bhopal, India - Blog number 1

First post!

Joe and Lotte – Blog number 1

Stepped off the plane into baking heat that brings an instant glistening sheen to your face with beads of sweat dripping down your back. We are at the height of summer, the earth crying out for long overdue monsoon, forecast for the end of the week but everyday the dark skies occasionally make a teasing pass over our heads.

To arrive at the Sambhavna destination, we had been told, was one simple direct train from New Dehli station. Not so!

We arrived at the station to a scene of wurling dust and colour as thousands of people young and old, in uniforms or rags, in families or other groups, fight for tickets and trains. Many set up camp in corners or steps as the long wait or agonizing gamble for late cancellations takes hold.

We fell hook line and sinker for India’s famed tourist cons, it was you see a national holiday and the trains were booked. We were helpfully informed to get a taxi to Agra and then a train from there for a mere 127 pounds. However our push to listen to prior knowledge of finding the cancellation stand back in the station bore fruit and 8 pounds bought us two overnight sleeper beds to Bhopal, arriving early the following morning.

Bhopal 4am looking cautiously around, this was the place which tooks so many lives; the example used across the world to show the darkness of multinational immorality. It appeared calm, the rikshaw wove through the streets still hot, people milling about mangos pilled high and sleeping bundles mixed in with the crumbling buildings.

Sambhavna was a haven in the city, within the little Bafna “colony.” The building is square shaped with a central open space at the centre. Its tall tower overlooks the neighbourhood and across to the Union Carbide factory, a mere 15 minute walk away.
Clinics start at 8.30 and run until 3. There is a big demand, each doctor sees about 40 patients a day. Patients come with their Bhopal medical book which states their level exposure to the Union Carbide chemicals along with the usual medical history.

Care is varied and depends upon the patient and the severity of the problem. Available treatments include: Allopathic (General medicine, Paediatrics and Gynaecology), Ayurvedic and Panchkarma. The later two are the traditional indian/complimentary medicines we hope to find out more about. in addition there are various drop in specialists who visit every couple of days such as a Pathologist and Opthalmologist.

Electronic records have recently been introduced and the clinic provides in many ways much more than the average GP of health centre in England. However some fundemental equipment is lacking such as opthalmoscopes or otoscopes. These are invaluable for the diagnosis and mornitoring of fevers, infections, diabetes and hypertension which infact make up the bulk of the workload in clinic. Referals are often made to the large hospitals nearby for the surgery cases and more immediate medical situations.

The garden is beautiful though apparently is almost unrecognizable following the monsoon with lush grow expected. Over 150 plants are cultivated here for use in the clinic and the canteen. The food is exceptional, thalis are our favourite at the moment and there is never too much yoghurt to be had!

Hope its not toooo rainy in england!

Namaste

Lotte and Joe

xx