Report from Steve Kupetz, Vol. 2
June 17, 2004
I know the Hindi word for "clean", but not for "sanitary". I can say "sick", but not "disease". I suppose I could explain "germ" as "a small, small drop in the air that brings sickness". If I am to spend more time at the International Village Clinic, I'll have to increase my Hindi medical vocabulary.
But, it turns out, the villagers themselves have a very limited medical vocabulary. The hospital compound is an island of sanitation in a sea of ..... The compound is filled with baskets for garbage, and little pots hanging from tree branches for spitting. I'm taking tea with three of the clinic workers, when one of them throws the disposable clay cup against the wall. Another embarrassingly (because I'm there?) gathers up the pieces and throws them over the compound wall into the neighboring field.
Later that day, on the same neighboring field, about 20 feet from the wall, a villager squats to relieve himself. Abul says lots of disease is spread by this open defecation, especially in the rainy season. A doctor screams at and shoos away the villager, who, mid-poop, grabbing his pants, stumbles off with a really shocked look on his face. He's responding to the shouts without any idea why they're shouting at him.
Abul sees education re: hygiene as part of the clinic's long term education program, with the emphasis on loooong. A wealthy landowner, Rajeev, builds for his family what for the village is a veritable palace - two stories, eight rooms, and plumbing. The guy has a penchant for gold, and so there's not only running water, but gold-painted faucets and fixtures. Imagine Abul's surprise when he comes visiting one morning and finds Rajeev squatting, doing his business in the field near his home. "You've got your fancy bathroom, your gold faucets, what're you doing out here?", he asks. "It feels," Rajeev answers, "more natural and comfortable."
- Steve Kupetz
Content © 2003 International Village Clinic.