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The MedicIndia M4 rotation is based in variable locations and different
communities depending on student choice and selection. Please note that
if you are interested in working with a particular community in a particular
location, email us to see if we will be establishing such a program.
While the possibilities are endless, we will ask that you be willing to venture
with a new organization to pilot such a program available for future students.
Currently, MedicIndia is establishing rotation programs with the following:
1. New Civil Hospital - This 1,500+ bed state
hospital is similar to a US county / state
hospital It provides free
health care to all who come to its doors. Generally, it is
attended by both
migratory workers and rural farm hands. With limited resources and
an unending cry for help,
the hospital does its best to provide the support that it can.
It is located in the
heart of Surat near to Ghod Dod Road.
2 Sewa Rural - This NGO is located in
Jaghadeeya, GJ, about three hours west of
Surat. It's story
is remarkable. Sewa Rural was started by Dr. Anil-bhai and Lata-ben
who completed their
residencies in the Eastern US. This couple returned to India to
take over a government
public health center while simultaneously beginning a local
NGO that has decreased
childhood mortality, alcohol abuse, and trauma. They work
surrounding villages and
also sponsor various plastic surgery, eye, and other camps.
3. Shamalaji PHC - This public health center was
taken over by Dr. Joshipura, also a
US practiced doctor.
Dr. Joshipura is working to establish the PHC in its local
community of Shamalaji
and surrounding villages.
As for the city of Surat, it is the second largest city in Gujarat. Recent numbers show that the population is over 3 million. The
developing city is located on the southwestern coast of
Gujarat. Because of its prime location near bodies of water and other major
cities, Surat has historically been a
center of trade and industry. Surat is surrounded by numerous villages. These
villagers often are of variable tribal classes. As Surat is the largest city
amongst these villages, many villagers migrate from both Gujarat, Maharashtra,
and local tribal villages nearby Surat for labor. From this migration of people
with different dialects, Surat poses a linguistic problem similar to Mumbai. One
can often find Gujarati, Hindi, and Marathi while walking down the street.
Many of
the cities in the slums of India have small clusters of huts located around a
central location. Surat, however, poses a different, longer stretch of
housing. According to Pratham, almost 29% of the population of Surat (i.e.
about .9 million inhabitants) lives in slums. More so, there are 289 recognized
slum pockets distributed across the city and 265 municipal schools with a total
enrolment of about 150,000 students.
Fortunately for the
Surat population, the Surat Municipal Corporation plays a more active role than
most municipal corporations in India. Since the destructive plague in Surat in
1994, the corporation has stepped up its role in maintaining a clean, safer
environment. As the environment improved, analysts saw the health of the people
improve drastically. The corporation also ensures the proper functioning of
numerous hospitals throughout the area. One of these hospitals is the New Civic
Hospital of Surat. The hospital has 1,050 beds and can have 1,500 patients.
About 60-70 new patients come per day. It is at this hospital that MedicIndia
fellows will undergo their fellowship term.
The people
of southern Gujarat, like those throughout India, contribute to the diversity and amazement
of India. In the people of India lies the true wealth and upbringing of the
country. It is with these people that MedicIndia hopes to involve you
with.
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