August 2014

The rains continue to play truant. Cloudy skies promise a shower and that's all. A few drops of rain and its all over. Migration to cities continues, and the water trade booms.
As yet, however, the lack of rains have not made any significant impact on the people accessing the RHC. 

Total Patients: 1734

Below 15 years - Male: 112; Female: 113
Above 65 years - Male: 76; Female: 89
Adult: Male: 649; Female: 695

Income (₹) Distribution

Below 12000: 1030
 12001 - 24000: 573
 24001 - 36000: 56
36001 - 48000: 41
Above 48001: 34

July 2014

The rains have kept away for the last 06 weeks. The fields lie fallow, no one has planted. Even the few hardy ones who planted millets just sit by and watch the empty fields. A few families have migrated out to the cities looking for jobs and some sort of income. Its a vicious cause and effect. No rains, no planting, no casual work, no income, diminished food production, increase in prices, drinking water scarcity and so on and so forth. How much can one dig for water. Borewells are at around 300 metres in our area, and these are drying up too. All hopes are on some sort of monsoon revival in the coming two months.
However the number of patients continues to be as usual

Total Patients: 2170

Below 15 years - Male: 125; Female: 115
Above 65 years - Male: 107; Female: 106
Adult: Male: 834; Female: 883

Income (₹) Distribution

Below 12000: 1297
 12001 - 24000: 689
 24001 - 36000: 90
36001 - 48000: 58
Above 48001: 36

June 2014

June has come and gone. Reopening after a month's break, makes it that much harder to get back to work. One decent rain in the month with 78 mm coming down in a few hours. But after that it has remained dry. Few clouds but nothing more. Patients are also slowly coming back, some sowing but others ploughing and awaiting the elusive monsoon.

Total Patients: 1595

Below 15 years - Male: 91; Female: 79
Above 65 years - Male: 86; Female: 85
Adult: Male: 612; Female: 642

Income (₹) Distribution

Below 12000: 1039
 12001 - 24000: 451
 24001 - 36000: 52
36001 - 48000: 28
Above 48001: 25

April 2014

Another man made year ending! This time though it feels good with a much needed vacation starting. April was still quite busy though we had started covering our long term patients till June.
The two important festivals in our valley the Gangamma Jatra and Thettu Thirunal have come and gone. Traditionally it is supposed to rain during these periods. However not a drop of rain.Maybe the gods themselves are angry at us human beings for the devastation we have caused? If El Nino acts up and the Indian Ocean Dipole shifts its going to be a bad monsoon. Where do we go for water is the big question?

Total Patients: 1992

Below 15 years - Male: 109; Female: 114
Above 65 years - Male: 125; Female: 120
Adult: Male: 713; Female: 781

Income (₹) Distribution

Below 12000: 1196
 12001 - 24000: 609
 24001 - 36000: 78
36001 - 48000: 47
Above 48001: 32

Dr Bhavya, ISC 2006, worked with us at the RHC for one month. It was a mutually enriching experience for all of us. Photos at the bottom of the blog

These two pretty girls were born after a successful tubal recanalisation

.

Dr Bhavya, Dr Kamakshi, Dr Kartik, Dr Ramesh

March 2014

These man made year endings are quite crazy. Technically this month sees the closing of accounts and a fresh start on 01 April. Does this make any difference to the ebb and flow of life around us?

Total Patients: 2039

Below 15 years - Male: 104; Female: 111
Above 65 years - Male: 78; Female: 86
Adult: Male: 751; Female: 909

Income (₹) Distribution

Below 12000: 1185
 12001 - 24000: 733
 24001 - 36000: 74
36001 - 48000: 30
Above 48001: 18

Vasantha - quietly proud with her 2nd baby. The elder daughter had a sever Congenital Heart Disease. Was operated under Arogyashri but did not survive due to post op complications. The 2nd pregnancy went to term, anomaly scans during pregnancy revealed no congenital anomalies, had a FTND and post natal checks also revealed no abnormality. The mothers smile says its all

A baby with a megacolon - recovered with conservative management

February 2014

It has started warming up, the sun is somewhat fierce, nights still pleasant. Drying up pretty fast

Total Patients: 1790

Below 15 years - Male: 93; Female: 90
Above 65 years - Male: 79; Female: 86
Adult: Male: 704; Female: 738

Income (₹) Distribution

Below 12000: 1088
12001 - 24000: 609
24001 - 36000: 48
36001 - 48000: 29
Above 48001: 16

A typical elderly woman seeking health care - Malnutrition predominates

Years of Bidis and Exposure to the sun - A Basal Cell Carcinoma

January 2014

The cold seems to have abated but it is also very fluctuant. Some days it is down to 10 celsius and other days a balmy 14 celsius
No rains at all and the plans have already started drying. This normally happens in the 2nd week of February - earlier by 2 weeks

Total Patients: 1767

Below 15 years - Male: 78; Female: 70
Above 65 years - Male: 72; Female: 84
Adult: Male: 680; Female: 783

Income (₹) Distribution

Below 12000: 1135
12001 - 24000: 516
24001 - 36000: 69
36001 - 48000: 31
Above 48001: 16

December 2013

The cold has started and its now common for a woolen cap to be worn in the early hours. As one grows older the cold sort of seems to get worse!!!!
Of course no rains - the north east monsoon has been a total let down.

Total Patients: 1954

Below 15 years - Male: 89; Female: 130
Above 65 years - Male: 80; Female: 73
Adult: Male: 790; Female: 792

Income (₹) Distribution

Below 12000: 1169
12001 - 24000: 654
24001 - 36000: 68
36001 - 48000: 36
Above 48001: 28

November 2013

Sorry one and all the posts have sort of got delayed
Back after a much needed 2 week vacation, in time to reopen the RHC and get ready for the The Annual Gathering of the Krishnamurti Foundation India. The gathering itself  went off very well and there was much discussion around the theme of "Living the Teachings in a Secular World". For those interested a summary of the proceedings can be accessed at  http://www.rishivalley.org/features/features.htm
 
About 75 participants visited the RHC and were very happy to see the work which was happening here.
 
The RHC continues to be busy as the numbers show

Total Patients: 1232

Below 15 years - Male: 74; Female: 63
Above 65 years - Male: 44; Female: 49
Adult: Male: 502; Female: 500

Income (₹) Distribution

Below 12000: 741
12001 - 24000: 416
24001 - 36000: 31
36001 - 48000: 20
Above 48001: 24

October 2013

A short two weeks vacation is due at the end of the month and all of us are looking forward to it. Following the vacation, the annual gathering of the Krishnamurti Foundation India will take place at Rishi Valley from 21 November to the 24th. A chance for all to meet and discuss the philosophy and other existential issues. At times one wonders whether such thoughts exercise the poor whom we serve or are their lives only about daily living and making their ends meet.
Of course as far as health seeking goes they continue to throng us

Total Patients: 1751

Below 15 years - Male: 91; Female: 85
Above 65 years - Male: 78; Female 81
Adult: Male: 715; Female: 701

Income (₹) Distribution

Below 12000: 1045
12001 - 24000: 551
24001 - 36000: 92
36001 - 48000: 35
Above 48001: 28

There is a lot of pressure on us to see more patients but this is about the maximum one can handle

A bit of excitement. A huge branch of a Peepul Tree came hurtlin fallingg down in strong winds, falling where patients normally congregate near the dispensary. Fortunately this happened just after the last patients had left!!!!

The photographs below gives you an idea of what happened!!!

Tree Fall on the Dispensary

Tree Fall

September 2013

A welcome break with some rains after long last. Strangely it has been raining all over but over the adjoining 50 km radius. Some tanks actually overflowed in Chinnamandem about 30 km from us. Strange are the vagaries of weather.

Total Patients: 1913

Below 15 years - Male: 99; Female: 108
Above 65 years - Male: 89; Female: 106
Adults - Male: 728; Female: 783

Income (₹) Distribution

Below 12000 pa: 1115
12001 - 24000: 696
24001 - 36000: 35
36001 - 48000: 29
Above 48000: 38

The other programmes continue to be busy. There is a need to support the care of the elderly. Many of them are quite marginalised that they find it difficult to eke out a livelihood

August 2013

The region seems to be in a ferment. From 31 July, the buses have been off the road and there are rolling bandhs everyday. Normal life has been affected as the protests against the division of Andhra Pradesh grow. One cannot see an end in sight as yet. 
The tardy rains add to the woes of the people. For the first time in close to 15 years, I am seeing the hardy groundnut crop drying up. All of us here have become exceedingly conscious about water or rather the lack of it.
The non availability of public transport has affected our patients and one has seen a drop in the numbers coming in. Most affected are the  elderly who are deprived of their regular medications.

Total Outpatient: 1478

 

Below 15 years: Male - 78; Female - 86
Above 65 years: Male: 70; Female - 84
15 - 65 years: Male - 559; Female - 601
 

Annual Income (₹)
<12000: 902="" br="">

12001 - 24000: 507

24001 - 36000: 26

36001 - 48000: 19

> 48000: 24

 

Eye Care

Total patients: 112
Glasses: 33
Medicines: 77
Surgeries: 02

Antenatal Programme
New registrations: 04
Domiciliary Delivery: 0

Hospital Delivery: 04

Caesarean Section: 01
Abortion: NIL

A Diagnosis of Muco Polysaccharoidosis has been made on this 13 year old. A rare genetic disorder, the parents have struggled to nurse her

July 2013

Its two months into the monsoon and as yet the rains have been very sparse thus far. We had one good shower,about 2 cm and all the ryots were busy planting. After that the rains gave played truant and we are experiencing a long dry spell. As it is borewells are plumbing new depths ~ 800 feet in many cases. What are we going to do about water?
Patients still come in their numbers

Total Outpatient: 1999

 

Below 15 years: Male - 103; Female - 100
Above 65 years: Male: 92; Female - 96
15 - 65 years: Male - 784; Female - 824
 

Annual Income (₹)
<12000: 1197="" span="">

12001 - 24000:713

24001 - 36000:29

36001 - 48000: 22

> 48000:38

 

Eye Care

Total patients: 125
Glasses: 43
Medicines: 75
Surgeries: 07

Antenatal Programme
New registrations: 06
Domiciliary Delivery: 0

Hospital Delivery: 04

Caesarean Section: 02

Abortion NIL 

Meningitis and its Sequelae

Thyrotoxicosis - The stare is typical

June 2013

Back with a bang and one hopes that the monsoon brings good cheer to one and all. Its dry and with the bore wells drying up one can sense a huge water catastrophe soon

The month started slow. The RHC has also increased its rates for consultation as well as laboratory investigations. This is in part to cover the increase in salary for our staff.

Total Outpatient: 1581

 

Below 15 years: Male - 57; Female - 69
Above 65 years: Male: 78; Female - 72
15 - 65 years: Male - 628; Female - 680
 

Annual Income (₹)
<12000: 920="" br="">

12001 - 24000: 597

24001 - 36000: 22

36001 - 48000: 20

> 48000: 22

 

Eye Care

Total patients: 67
Glasses: 28
Medicines: 37
Surgeries: 02

Antenatal Programme
New registrations: 22
Domiciliary Delivery: 0

Hospital Delivery: 05

Caesarean Section: 01
Abortion: NIL

Still Birth: 0

April 2013

April was as usual exceedingly busy, and hot. By the end of the month one was close to burnout and looking at a break. The stress of running a programme such as this can some times get to you.

Total Outpatient: 1973

 

Below 15 years: Male - 93; Female - 87
Above 65 years: Male: 99; Female - 104
15 - 65 years: Male - 742; Female - 848
 

Annual Income (₹)
<12000: 1226="" span="">

12001 - 24000: 637

24001 - 36000: 48

36001 - 48000: 32

> 48000: 30

 

Eye Care

Total patients: 49
Glasses: 18
Medicines: 30
Surgeries: 01

Antenatal Programme
New registrations: 14
Domiciliary Delivery: 01

Hospital Delivery: 05

Caesarean Section: 02
Abortion: 01

Still Birth: 0

March 2013

March has started hot with the promise of a baking April ahead. For the patients it does not seem to matter, as more and more land up. One hopes that the coming June will see good rains for us and the country as a whole.

Total Outpatient: 2159

 

Below 15 years: Male - 106; Female - 119
Above 65 years: Male: 100; Female - 102
15 - 65 years: Male - 802; Female - 930
 

Annual Income (₹)
<12000: 1262="" span="">

12001 - 24000: 771

24001 - 36000: 39

36001 - 48000: 34

> 48000: 53

 

Eye Care

Total patients: 114
Glasses: 38
Medicines: 73
Surgeries: 03

Antenatal Programme
New registrations: 06
Domiciliary Delivery: 0

Hospital Delivery: 02

Caesarean Section: 02
Abortion: NIL

Still Birth: 0

February 2013

With Sankranti having been celebrated, albeit in a low key manner thanks to the prevailing drought, the farmers get back to tilling the land and also now find time to take care of their health. 

Total Outpatients: 1957

Below 15 yesr: Male - 109; Female - 90
Above 65 years: Male - 101; Female - 107
15 - 65 years: Male - 742; Female - 808

Annual Income (₹) INR
< 12000: 1251
12001 - 24000: 644
24001 - 36000: 18
36001 - 48000: 20
> 48000: 24

Eye Care
Total Patients: 129
Glasses:54 
Medicine: 70
Surgery: 05

Antenatal Programme
New Registrations: 01
Domiciliary Delivery: 00
Hospital Delivery: 06
LSCS: 00
Abortion: 00
Still Birth: 00

January 2013

Welcome 2013.

heres wishing everyone a wonderful year ahead and may there be good rains this year

As usual the cold weather does not stop the patients coming in

Total Outpatient: 1892

 

Below 15 years: Male - 90; Female - 84
Above 65 years: Male: 97; Female - 95
15 - 65 years: Male - 722; Female - 804
 

Income (per month)
INR less than 1000: 1179
1000 - 2000: 642
2000 - 3000: 21
3000 - 4000: 20
More than 4000: 30

 

Eye Care

Total patients: 129
Glasses: 42
Medicines: 82
Surgeries: 05

Antenatal Programme
New registrations: 07
Domiciliary Delivery: 0

Hospital Delivery: 00

Caesarean Section: 00
Abortion: NIL

Still Birth: 0

December 2012

December turns out to be a busy month. Many people would like to get their illness over and done with prior to the new year. One does hope that the year ahead bring rain and cheer to the country and world at large. There has been enough death and destruction in all parts of the world. Hope there is a chance for peace.

Total Outpatient: 2067

 

Below 15 years: Male - 95; Female - 79
Above 65 years: Male: 99; Female - 101
15 - 65 years: Male - 805; Female - 888
 

Income (per month)
INR less than 1000: 1270
1000 - 2000: 719
2000 - 3000: 38
3000 - 4000: 19
More than 4000: 21

 

Eye Care

Total patients: 122
Glasses: 40
Medicines: 78
Surgeries: 04

Antenatal Programme
New registrations: 04
Domiciliary Delivery: 0

Hospital Delivery: 01

Caesarean Section: 01
Abortion: NIL

Still Birth: 0

November 2012

Back after a 2 week much needed break with Diwali thrown in for good measure. It was business as usual soon after the reopening:

A month before a much needed break

Total Outpatient: 937

 

Below 15 years: Male - 56; Female - 50
Above 65 years: Male: 43; Female - 45
15 - 65 years: Male - 371; Female - 372
 

Income (per month)
INR less than 1000: 598
1000 - 2000: 300
2000 - 3000: 21
3000 - 4000: 10
More than 4000: 08

 

Eye Care

Total patients: 46
Glasses: 16
Medicines: 30
Surgeries: 00

Antenatal Programme
New registrations: 10
Domiciliary Delivery: 0

Hospital Delivery: 00

Caesarean Section: 01
Abortion: NIL

Still Birth: 0