211075 Downing Record 07 - Downing College - University of ...

The Schieffelin Leprosy Research & TrainingCentre, Karigiri, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, Indiaby Benjamin DavisAs well as reading Medicine Ben Davis was Senior Organ Scholar. He received agrant from the Association’s Student Support Fund towards the cost of hisjourney.Since working with paediatric HIV/AIDS in Kenya last year, my interest in GlobalHealth has been steadily growing and this, combined with a desire to visit India,made the opportunity to visit a hospital in rural Tamil Nadu irresistible. I spent fourweeks in total at Karigiri Hospital, which was originally a leprosarium and then aleprosy research centre set up in the 1950s. With the rapid decrease in the incidenceof leprosy, the hospital has diversified into a general rural hospital, which continuesto care for many leprosy patients. I chose to spend two weeks with the CommunityHealth Department, and another two weeks in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Icompleted the Preparing for Patients C part of my 2nd MB whilst at the CommunityHealth Department. I was less interested in the clinical medicine than the numeroussupporting activities which provided excellent examples of fully integrated socioeconomiccommunity development with a very wide compass. I spent time visitingthe many social development projects in the panchayats (villages) surrounding thehospital. Travelling by motorbike, I was shown many examples of fully integratedcare. The department rebuilds houses, provides nutrition to those in need, healtheducation to women’s groups, sets up support groups for those affected byHIV/AIDS, self-help groups for those affected by disability and runs incomegeneration projects – setting up small loans for individuals and communities. Agood example was a 75 year old woman I met, who was cured of her leprosy buthad been left severely disfigured. She lived in very poor conditions and her familyhad disowned her and actively avoided her every time she visited the well orapproached them. They lived only a few metres away from her. This had beencontinuing for 30 years. The department highlighted her case and rebuilt her awater-tight house and began health education in her village, including informationon leprosy – how it can and cannot be transmitted. Over time, her family havebegun to accept and support her. Her health has improved massively because ofbetter self-care. My time with the department was invaluable in demonstratinghow health and social care must be fully integrated, and how successful it can be.Without adequate social care, patients would continue to present and continue toneed treatment without improvement. I also spent time with a psychologist andpsychiatrist, looking at the psychosocial effects of leprosy, particularly the effectof depression and emotions on self-care.32