Together for a more just and caring society

The gynecology and obstetrics ward at RDT Kalyandurg Hospital is a hive of activity. 22-year-old Meena waits for the doctor in charge to attend to her. In the final stages of her pregnancy, she is waiting to find out whether she will have a caesarean section or a natural delivery.

She heard about the hospital through the rural health worker in her village and has been coming for regular check-ups ever since. Meena has never missed one of the antenatal education sessions that the hospital offers to pregnant women and their spouses to help them plan for a safer pregnancy.

Prenatal care involves a series of medical appointments, screenings, and tests during pregnancy. These tests assess the health and well-being of the mother and fetus under the supervision of medical professionals.

Proper monitoring minimizes the risk to both mother and baby. The RDT hospital network has recorded 14,902 institutional deliveries in 2021-22. Regular awareness-raising sessions address overlooked maternal health issues to prevent complications during pregnancy and reinforce the importance of antenatal care. They also help bridge the gap between traditional and modern health care, where women can share their concerns and benefit from antenatal care.

With the help of awareness sessions, Meena knows what medicines she needs to take in the first few months of her pregnancy. She says, "The nurses and doctors here make me understand how pregnancies get complicated without adequate vitamins and can change the health of the babies if you have iron deficiency, gestational diabetes. They help me understand that all this can be effectively managed with proper medical care.”

"I learned a lot about the misconceptions about pregnancy that our grandparents and parents gave us. Here at the hospital, they give precise instructions on what to do each month to ensure the health of both mother and baby. I think the sessions I attended with my family also helped them understand and empathize with me in a way," says Meena, as Dr. Pavani, head of the gynecology and obstetrics department, attends to her. "When I came here, I learnt more about the treatments I am undergoing and the medicines that are used at different stages of pregnancy. It makes me feel more confident about my body," she adds.

Meena's husband was with her throughout the session and shared his concerns. He says, "I feel that the antenatal classes at the hospital gave me a detailed understanding of the complications and the importance of a healthy mother during pregnancy. He helps Meena get up from the cot she was sitting in. "I am glad we chose to come here," he adds with a smile.

Dr. Pavani, the head of the G & O department at Kalyandurg, has also recently given birth. "In a way, I now empathize more with the mothers. My job is to ensure that their pregnancies are safe and to help them understand how they can be more involved in their own health. We encourage them to talk about their concerns and address them openly. The women are mostly from the villages, and many are first-time mothers. We identify whether these mothers have iron deficiency or hypertension and provide a screening that can identify their problems.

The doctor quickly moves to the beeping machine next to Meena and explains, "Along with this, we also make sure that the mothers take the non-stress test (NST) to ensure that there are no abnormalities in the baby's movements and the mother's stress."

With 665,756 medical visits in the RDT hospital network, it is necessary to look at the role played by the gynecology and obstetrics department. It makes us understand that prenatal care is more than just medical care. It symbolizes the prospect of a healthier future for mothers and their newborns. "As obstetricians and gynecologists, it is our duty to go beyond clinical expertise and ensure that families can embark together on the journey of motherhood with optimal health and information," adds Dr. Pavani, before heading to the operating room to begin the next surgery on a pregnant patient.

Links:

• This year we are celebrating 55 years of work in rural India

“Education allows you to live independently, most often, we overlook that being curious about something is also a big part of learning. Education is not limited to textbooks but also includes our surroundings,” speaks Battiraka Lakshman, taking his white cane from a student who helped him walk into the classroom. Every day, Lakshman walks through the corridor to his students, where the students are excited to see him. They guide him and make him sit in the chair. Lakshman is a teacher with visual impairment and has been working in RDT inclusive schools for the last 19 years.

Born visually impaired, Lakshman liked school from his childhood. After completing his schooling in the school for the visually challenged, his course of life changed when he got to know about a D. Ed course in Chittoor. As he enrolled in the programme, he got to know that he was the only person who was especially abled among his friends. Lakshman made friends and they helped him convert the text to braille to be able to learn on his own.

At the end of the course, his teacher told him something very important that struck a chord with him, “My mentor at that time told me how a profession like teaching would be an apt choice for someone curious like me. It made me realise that I should have a dream, one where I get to help people just like me, and it has led me to RDT.  Here, I get to teach children and help them dream and realise their dreams!” he smiles.

RDT/FVF initiated the Inclusive Education Programme in 2007 to enable children with disabilities to access education and the opportunities that arise from it. Of the 891 children currently studying in RDT’s Disability Inclusive Residential primary schools, 67 are visually impaired children. All students are provided with Braille books and devices, in addition to healthcare services, nutritious food, uniforms and books. 7 RDT inclusive schools enable children to enhance their life skills by intervening through proper braille education, which helps their holistic development.

“Education is a powerful tool that can guide people through their life, and being educated when you are visually impaired is a totally different thing. Braille is a difficult language to learn and master. For children with visual impairments, it is the basic thing you have to start with,” says Lakshman.

According to Lakshman, educating visually impaired children is difficult and is different from teaching children with normal vision. In RDT schools, children from the ages 3-5 years join and learn with small tests like identifying and counting objects through tactile sense. After mastering this, children are taught English and Telugu braille codes with a six-hole braille device called Golichekka.

“I know how difficult it is to live without sight. I feel very fortunate to be able to educate children with visual impairment. It is true that a teacher is a constant student. I desire to learn new things and impart them to the children, to answer the questions asked by the children. I think learning never ends at all. It is through all these ups and downs you learn about how to face challenges and how to deal with them without faltering. I hope my students have the courage to move forward in life,” Lakshman adds while moving forward to teach the next class.

It is fitting to say that our teaching workforce in India and their ability to reach the deepest pockets of the country makes them the people who are silently involved in the task of making the next generation leaders.

Enable inclusive education for children in rural India

• 90% of the children with disabilities in India do not receive any schooling.
• The aim of the RDT inclusive education program is to provide able and disabled children equal access to quality education.
• The inclusive approach facilitates the promotion of social integration and personality development.
• Providing access to both general and special education will lead children with disabilities to their empowerment and future emancipation.
• This project provides access to residential schools for children in need in rural India.

You can help these kids reach their full potential!

Links:

• RDT/FVF Inclusive Education Schools