Today is day two and last night was the worst with jet lag. I should've known I would be up half the night from past consistent experience.
There have been many changes since the last time I was here. I was pleased to see that the initial clinic staff were still there, but now with the addition of a full administrative personnel and a separate office to house them. There is actually something quite cheerful about the new office. While it is a cozy space, it doesn't feel so entrapped with the glass wall facing the street.
Today was gentlemen's day. Upon arriving, there were already ten men waiting to be treated. I was talking with Satish, one of our long time acupuncturists about the most common conditions that the clinic sees. There are many people with strokes and arthritis. I was reminded of a patient I had seen the last time I was here. He had arthritis and had been on steroids for many years. He didn't have any followup care and nobody was monitoring his medications. Therefore, he continued to take the steroids resulting in edema in his legs, face, and arms. I was alarmed at the duration and the toll it had taken on his body. Steroids should never be taken long term and if they are deemed necessary they are usually closely monitored. I found that this was a common occurrence. The glaring lack of followup care and overuse of medications is incomprehensible.
Many of the medications here are termed old school. There are much more sophisticated, modern medications out now. My impression was that the older medicines are more easily accessible and cheaper.
I was going over some numbers today. I thought it would be good to give an outline of what the economic landscape is like for those who live in the slums. For every dollar there are sixty rupees.
It is common for a worker who lives in the slums to make between 200 to 300 rupees per day, multiplied by twenty-eight makes between 5,600 to 8,400 rupees. Converted to dollars per month makes between $93.33 to $140. Now in comparison, what they make in one month, I often make in a hour. Furthermore, a meal on the street which may consist of rice, legumes, and a chapati can cost thirty rupees, which is fifty cents here in the US. Where in the US can I get a full meal for fifty cents? It is because of the low cost of necessities that people in the slums are able to survive. Should that skyrocket, then millions of people will become effected.
Now to paint another economic picture, it is common for many households in Mumbai to have a housekeeper who comes daily to clean. The usual salary is between 1,500 to 2,000 rupees per month. This converts to $25 to $33.33. That is how it is affordable to have a housekeeper, driver, and perhaps a cook. And yet somehow the housekeeper, driver and the cook can feed their family and keep a roof over their head. Hard, hard work.
The cost of a treatment at the clinic is twenty rupees or thirty-three cents. Of course, if they don't have the money to pay, they will still be accepted. This amount is not much but helps offset the cost of needles and other supplies.
In the upcoming days, I'll be interviewing the staff and including them here. Keep posted for more!
There have been many changes since the last time I was here. I was pleased to see that the initial clinic staff were still there, but now with the addition of a full administrative personnel and a separate office to house them. There is actually something quite cheerful about the new office. While it is a cozy space, it doesn't feel so entrapped with the glass wall facing the street.
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| Rashi and Ujwala |
Many of the medications here are termed old school. There are much more sophisticated, modern medications out now. My impression was that the older medicines are more easily accessible and cheaper.
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| View from inside the office. |
It is common for a worker who lives in the slums to make between 200 to 300 rupees per day, multiplied by twenty-eight makes between 5,600 to 8,400 rupees. Converted to dollars per month makes between $93.33 to $140. Now in comparison, what they make in one month, I often make in a hour. Furthermore, a meal on the street which may consist of rice, legumes, and a chapati can cost thirty rupees, which is fifty cents here in the US. Where in the US can I get a full meal for fifty cents? It is because of the low cost of necessities that people in the slums are able to survive. Should that skyrocket, then millions of people will become effected.
Now to paint another economic picture, it is common for many households in Mumbai to have a housekeeper who comes daily to clean. The usual salary is between 1,500 to 2,000 rupees per month. This converts to $25 to $33.33. That is how it is affordable to have a housekeeper, driver, and perhaps a cook. And yet somehow the housekeeper, driver and the cook can feed their family and keep a roof over their head. Hard, hard work.
The cost of a treatment at the clinic is twenty rupees or thirty-three cents. Of course, if they don't have the money to pay, they will still be accepted. This amount is not much but helps offset the cost of needles and other supplies.
In the upcoming days, I'll be interviewing the staff and including them here. Keep posted for more!
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