WASIND DIARIES
Well, on 16th November, 2009 I came to know that I will be posted in Wasind peripheral healthcare centre for the next thirty days starting November 18th . I was happy because I had a co intern with me. We could thus divide the duty between ourselves.
I set out from Malad at 5.30 am on the 24th. I reached at 8.45 am. Hehe! On the very first day I had to clear the OPD alone as the MO had some administrative work in a nearby town. With absolutely no idea as to what will be my means of subsistence for the next 6 days I had my lunch at a hotel on the Nashik highway, a good kilometer away. Yuck is not the word to describe the hotel, the glass, the water, the dalkhichdi and the service. Hotel Vishal was out. And so were the toilet and the bathroom. But the only difference was that I didn’t have to eat at Vishal if I didn’t want to. But I have seen worse so I was not as sore as a spoilt brat would be if he were made to use such five star amenities. The evening OPD was much lighter. Come night and I was wary of what I feared I might have to face. But luckily the only patient for the night was a delivery patient and thanks to the supremely skilled nurses here, I had to examine her only once for formality’s sake. They managed her well as they have managed hundreds for years before. One of them actually shooed me away saying “Sir, why don’t you go and get some sleep? We will take care of her.” Well the only thing that bothered me is the doubt whether I was being derelict or I was only helping by not interfering. It turned out to be the latter. Ha! The fan was a blessing in a mosquito infested town. That night I was a chimp who loves bananas.
Day two: OPD once again. Alone once again. This was a hint of what I should have figured earlier. We will see what that is. The prajakta tree shed it’s ever beautiful flowers before dawn. Someone told me of a Tiffin service. I went out in the unkind blaze to hunt her house not quite sure of the Hebrew instruction I received of her address from one of the nurses. As expected I couldn’t find it. I love being a chimp. Finally that evening I came to the conclusion that my MO trusted me a lot, so much so that she thought I was more than capable to handle the OPDs and the night duties alone! That someone who told me of the food service was kind enough to tell that lady to get me dinner that night. Bless her, I was already tired of being a chimp. A small pup found a friend in me and my phone is full of his pics now. I discovered this great invention on which I typed this nonsense. I also discovered that the internet connection was out of service because nobody had bothered to clear the problem whatever it was. Lord of the Rings; Return of the King was a feast to my sore eyes that evening. No patients that night.
Day three: the lonesome morning affair took a break. It was show time! A few fellows from an NGO were here for a street play to spread awareness about common diseases. I saw tens of students from a nearby school obviously brought with the sole intention of avoiding a flop show and tens of ladies with their tiny tots. I thought wow what a curious lot these ladies are… well they were workers affiliated to my health centre and were under a silly obligation to attend. But all this had nothing to do with the high spirits of the boys and girls who were to present a fine show. It was worth the watch. Oh yes! How could I forget the most important lot who attended? The whos of the whats… atleast ten political figures, all important at their own level (wink!) were present. And eeks, I had to welcome two of them with stupid bouquets of the humble aster. And to add to my agony, the compere thought I was some Swapnil , but I was better off than him. Poor fellow had a hard time judging who was more important and who was to be greeted before whom and who was to welcome whom. He he! The last speech people had to bear under the merciless sun was a harsh tirade, nonetheless well deserved by the ones for whom it was meant. The chief of the local public health committee came down heavily on all those who apparently shirked their responsibilities and shamelessly gobbled government money as salaries. I was both surprised and happy that he did so in a public function, out in the open for all to hear. Good man. The only thing this program did to me was to extend my OPD (read woes) till 2.30pm. Hungrier than a rat, I finished my lunch in less than ten minutes. A dead body was brought in that afternoon for declaration of death and further paperwork. Once again my MO was kind enough to think good of my capabilities. I had to declare the death and do all the shitty paperwork. The MO hardly had any idea what to do. The MO did what the MO was best at doing. Signatures. The MO didn’t even look at the body. That evening I thought enough of being a house rat and I decided to become a field mouse. I scurried about the market place looking for gastronomical delights. Umm. Without much effort I found what I was looking for. Fresh jalebi, paanipuri, both roadside, much to my pleasure… and more bananas. Another discovery. A tea stall that sold piwar (pure) tea! He he, 4rs was nothing. I thought I will explore the rest at leisure. I stumbled upon the telephone. Free calls. No patients that night.
Day four: they said it was an OPD holiday. But I knew that the patients hardly knew. What next? My conscience hearkened to me. I couldn’t turn them away. Surprisingly though, my MO had arranged for a replacement and the man without a word finished the OPD. Lucky me! I managed one child with acute gastroenteritis that afternoon and had a good naaaaapppp till 7 in the evening as Saturdays were half working days, thus sparing me the evening OPD. That day I realized that people here think of dispensaries as they think of a market. They think they can choose their own treatment off the shelf. I had a great time explaining them it was not the grocery’s they were at and they could not ask for injections of power and intravenous infusions to restore vigour at will. Funny huh! Few of them did not even wait for me to open my mouth. “Doctor, my son is weak; give him a tonic or an injection.” I cackled at the whole thing which has bred such ignorance and at the presiding MOs who encouraged such ideas by yielding to patients’ innocent, firm and out rightly stupid demands. The lady of the tea stall could no more suppress her curiosity and asked if I was a new worker at the adjacent factory. I told her otherwise. She probed further about the nature of my job at the PHC. Her face was a sight when I told her I was the new doctor there. Not her fault though. I hardly look like one. How many docs have walked this earth with long hair and a goatee? I found out an excellent wadapaav joint that morning. Guess the price. 2 rupees. Well the size was commensurate to the price but the taste beyond comparison. I noticed the advantage of a small town after I bought well, more bananas… everything was a lot cheaper than at back home. I went for some stargazing that night. It was lovely. Moonless. Refreshing. And it gave me a kick. The boy with intestinal infection returned at 8pm. I promptly referred him to a higher centre as I had done all I could for him. The eggs had boiled over thanks to my absentmindedness. The pup refused to eat what I refused to eat. He wanted my chapattis which I so lovingly had fed him for two days now. I saw The Two Towers for the fifth time ever. No patients that night.
Day five : sundayyyyyyyyyyyyyy! Yay! I am in love with the scent of prajakta I finally mustered courage to climb up to the roof. Courage, because I had to climb without a ladder taking support of mostly my great shoulders (wink!). Only to find out that it wasn’t such a great view after all. I was feeling like a donkey. Not because of the unflattering view, but because I feared I might have to call for help to get down. Shheeesh! What would they think of me? Is he a doctor or a chimp? (That reminds me of bananas. I had four of them for breakfast.) I clambered down with only a few bruises, proud that I had relived my boyhood days. Climbing onto godforsaken trees and walls and then wondering how to get down. Hah! Lunch was late. She thought she could bring it whenever she wanted. She was right. I was tired of calling up the internet guys to get it fixed and the MO too had found a guileless idiot in me, expecting me to clear the mess they all had so merrily created. The only relief was the free phone. He he! But not my idea of fun anyway. No patient that night.
Day six: tudah! Bye Wasind! Off to home and thence to Mahabaleshwar the following morning. PHRSHH! No tudah! My LPG cylinder went empty but thankfully after my bath hehe! One moron of a patient (actually his mother) left miffed because I did not give in to her demand of vitamin tablets for her son which I thought were quite unnecessary for the healthy chap he was. Silly Tubal Ligation camp at Shahapur. Went on half bum in cramped up Sumo gifted to our PHC by the cash strapped govt. Was reminded of fourth seat in the locals. Shahapur Regional hospital was a surprise with an equipped (but non functional nonetheless) ICU. My MO thought highly of my tastes too, quite evident from the fact that she pulled me along to choose seat covers and curtain cloths for the new Sumo ambulance. Back to the PHC at nightfall, suggesting ideas to spend more money on making the PHC a sight to behold. Secretly I wished that they cared more for hygiene but anyway, I ended up speaking what seemed to please the MO and not what I should have. Still somehow managed to speak up about the empty cylinder. Well as a reward for my courage, I got the keys to the MO’s room. He he! They actually spend time thinking of novel ways to spend money and are worried lest the amount for that month remains unspent! Everybody hates everybody here. No internet. Tiffin lady is such a miser. Tea at sister’s acquaintance’s place. One of the many advantages of knowing almost everyone in the village. The bushfire raging on the hillock opposite the PHC was a grand sight after dark. My fingers went numb with the cold. Never thought it would get so bad. No patients that night.
Day seven: first intern to have bath in the MO’s room! Absconded for the Kasara local. Saw a train ghat for the second time ever. Ever seen a rickshaw on a railway platform? Khardi school health camp was nice. The lab more equipped than at my school! And the fellas smarter! Met my friends gathered from other PHCs for the same reason. Camp done within three hours flat. Left for Vaitarna PHC to have fun with them. Why is there a road to Vaitarna at all? The dam amazed me with its Made in England 1952 motors still working. A major one amongst those supplying water to the city of Mumbai. Photography prohibited (but not for doctors) ha! A guy working there found us and took us on an impromptu (and free!) guided tour of the dam. Left at 5.30PM. Got down at Wasind PHC to grab my bag trying to avoid being seen. But I am no 007. Managed to weasel my way out and ran to catch my CST local. Reached home at 10.30. It’s that far guys! But had a blast with friends, so no regrets! Mahabaleshwar! Here I come!
