Week Four- Our Last Week

Playing Cricket at Lunch at SEC

 As we said our goodbyes there were tears in our eyes, but a silver lining was the excitement to get home to our families for Christmas. It seams strange that we are to go back and slip back into our daily routine and ‘normal’ lives but somehow I think that we will go about our days in a different way, we may think more about why we do what we do, or next time when we walk into a hospital be a bit more thankful of the resources and treatment that is available or we may find ourselves crossing unsafe roads or wearing no seat belts out of the habits were have had to form in the last weeks. We may instead of being apathetic think about how our actions don’t only affect ourselves but others too from the things we buy to how we use our time. The time in India has surely has opened our eyes to a new way of thinking and a new way of doing.

This week has been the most packed out week in the world we literally haven’t sat still. From returning to Colaba Markets on Monday, eating us much Indian food before returning to our bland Australian meals, making a documentary about female feticide, Christmas shopping and making truffles saying goodbye to the people we have been working with in India.

Visiting Sion Hospital

On Wednesday we were invited to revisit Sion Hospital by Associate Professor Manta Mangali to observe how the wards run and learn more about the hospital system in Mumbai. After greeting the Professor we were introduced to a Resident who guided us around the hospital.

Observing the Wards

Looking upon the oncology ward there was open cots with family members around them, no curtains just a big room of sickly children. There were isolation rooms at the back (4-6 room I think) that are used for the very severe cases. Being confronted with children with illnesses is never easy, but it was good to see that these children where being provided health care no matter how the room looked.

As we walked to the following clinics we see a lady wailing in distress on the floor; you can only imagine what news she has heard.

HIV clinic

Arriving at the HIV clinic I was expecting to see children who were overly underweight, with sunken eyes and pain in their faces. Instead I saw smiley, playful patients with curious eyes. As we smiled they showed there glimmering white teeth in a grin. After a time of staring and smiling we hear the ‘hi’ from various children.

The Resident took us into a room and explained about HIV clinic, the high prevalence in India (It is now thought that around 2.39 million people in India are living with HIV, or  0.55% (that’s more than one in every two hundred) in the state of Maharashtra ), stigmatization of people with HIV and the issues that the hospital and the families face. We all very much enjoyed learning from the resident, he explained about the current treatment for HIV and the side affects which in turn can affect the compliance of the patient with their medication. There is a window of time where patients with HIV can be put on antiretroviral medicines for the rest of their lives. Furthermore he explained that many families are cannot afford the costs of the antiretroviral medicines and some are given this medication through donations. However in recent times the donors have stopped donating meaning that there is a lack of funds and entails that some clients are unable to remain on the drugs. This has devastating consequences. Antiretroviral medicines are not a cure, despite the side affects patients are able to live a relatively ‘normal’ life having a life expectancy near those without HIV.  Some mother’s come to the clinic not only to find out their child has HIV but there partner and other siblings do too.

Thalassemia Clinic

The resident explained that Thalassemia is a blood disorder passed down through families in which the body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The disorder results in excessive destruction of red blood cells, which leads to severe anemia. Without blood transfusions someone with thalassemia would die, so blood transfusions are given every 21 days- however even with this they only have a life expectancy of between 30-40 years. Symptoms of thalassemia include bone deformities in the face (as hemoglobin is vastly produced in the bones), fatigue, growth failure, shortness of breath and yellow skin. People with thalassemia often have enlarged liver and spleens (as hemoglobin can be produced in these areas). During our visit we had the chance to palate a spleen of a boy who had thalassemia and it was harder than we imagined. We watched various thalassemia clients get blood transfusions I was amazed how we saw no patient cry and most didn’t even squirm.

Learning Disability Clinic

We visited the Learning Disability Center, where those with intellectual disabilities can come be tested and interventions are given. This is a very OT (Occupational Therapy) area with the Professor of the clinic describing many similar OT screens and tools being used at the center with collaboration from other professions such a psychologist in IQ testing. OT, psychology and many other disciplines combine to provide care and improve function for those with intellectual disabilities and learning disorders.

Our week at SEC

Lizzy and Laura in their Speech Therapy session

Our last week at SEC! I cannot believe it! Although we haven’t been limited with time and resources; I feel that we have accomplished so much. First of all we have seen growth in each other and ourselves. Coming to a better understanding of Indian culture, the languages, the issues facing Mumbai and how we can help and aide in improvements in the lives of our clients. Secondly we have seen a some change in the how our clients are able to participate at school. From an improvement in their English, to being able to manipulate a pencil more effectively whilst writing, to students using strategies to improve attention within the classroom.  We have also gained a relationship with the teachers, therapist, principals and other members at the school, that I am sure these relationships will continue well after we leave Mumbai. On top of this were where able to raise funds to sponsor a total of three students and give educational resources to be used at the school. We intend to continue to sponsor these children and will continue to fundraise for the school, so that they are able to give a chance to children’s who have disabilities.

During the week we participated in the annual Christmas Concert that was full of singing, eating popcorn and fairy floss (named old women’s hair in Hindi), Santa giving out presents (from a donor), a magic show, and the message of Christmas being told.  It was a great time to enjoy with all members of the school.

Christmas Concert 

Eating Fairy Floss at the Christmas Concert 

On Thursday we took the school bus home, we got to see the students being dropped off for the their parents to pick up and it was quite interesting to see the laughter and playfulness.

As we say goodbye to SEC we will surely miss the vibrancy of the school and will remember fondly our memories. You never know we may get the opportunity to return to Mumbai.

Saying Our Goodbyes

Goodbye Mumbai