A Death

Shanaz Bee was only 30 years old when she died leaving behind five children, the youngest being twins aged 08 months.
Why did she have to die at this young age - its is a story of neglect, poverty and probably mismanagement.
She had not been well for over two months, going to some village doctors, who treated her with Injections etc - the usual stuff. Her mother kept insisting that she come to the Health Centre, but she would not or could not - putting off the visit with some excuse or the other - "Who will look after the kids?" "Who will cook food?" and so on and so forth.
Finally her parents convinced her to come and stay with them. By then she was apparently in a pretty bad shape. She went to a private practitioner in Madanapalle, who again treated her with some antibiotics.
She finally came to the health centre on a Friday morning, reaching early to beat the rush. When the staff came in an hour later, they found her quite breathless. They were in the process of shifting her to the Emergency Room, when she collapsed. We tried resuscitating her but to no avail.
Why did she die - no one knows - a post mortem may have helped, but then who has the money to pay the police, the civil surgeons? After all it is one more death in an overpopulated land.
But a death is a death and what of the kids?

April 2008

Well the new year has started without a let up. Patients continue streaming in, more numbers than usual as they know that it is time for our annual vacation!! This much needed break will give us all a breather to recharge batteries, exhausted minds to ensure that we continue to give our best to our patients. The health centre closed on 26 April and will reopen on 25th May. Exactly a month's break.
The numbers for April:

Patients
Children: 46
Adults: 1851

Antenatal
Registered: 02
Spontaneous Abortion: 01. She had an abortion at 10 weeks of pregnancy

Eye Care
Patients 38
Cataract Surgeries: 07

March 2008

As the Financial Year closes, it is time to take stock of what happened the previous year and look forward to plans for the coming year, not that it makes a difference to the patients as any year, day is the same when it comes to illnesses.
March was like any other month, probably busier than others. The review of work is as follows:
Patients:
Children: 104
Adults: 1861


Antenatal
Number Registered: 05
Deliveries: Nil

Eye Care
Patients: 85
Children: 01
Cataract Surgeries: 04