Developing World Site Evaluation

Potential for Indian Burn Outreach Program

  Patient in Burn Unit 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

The hospital also has a small burn unit. While there, I demonstrated Interplast Grand Rounds to Dr. Puneet, and he is very interested in becoming a member. He is also very interested in our burn outreach program for the future. Some of his post-op cleft patients were in the hospital and on the wards when I visited. We also examined the patients he had arranged for us to see together to discuss potential care plans for them. Some of these patents will be brought for our team visit.

India: Almost Overwhelming

  Indian Kids 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

One's first experience of India is almost overwhelming...India stimulates all senses...visual, smell, sound, touch, and ultimately, taste. There are great areas of poverty in India, which has the second largest population in the world (and will become first in the not-to-distant future).  India has the largest actual number of poor people in any country...40% of the population. Driving through India, as I did much of, one can witness this first hand.  Fortunately, even poverty cannot wipe a smile off of someone's face, as these girls by the side of the road demonstrated.

Well Suited For An Interplast Surgical Team

  Bill and Dr. Puneet Pasricha 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

My visit to Jalandhar in the state of Punjab was a bit marred by an illness on my part. I visited the Pasricha Hospital, a private hospital there owned by Dr. Puneet Pasricha. He is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon. He already is a Smile Train partner, doing clefts on poor patients. The hospital is very clean, small, and well suited for an Interplast surgical team visit.

Dr. Yogi's Hand With Henna

  Dr. Yogi's Hand With Henna 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Dr. Yogi got his hand painted by a child while in Haridwar.

Aarti at Haridwar

  Aarti at Haridwar 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

We went to Haridwar, a very sacred city for Hindus. It is often called the Varanasi of the North, as it is located on the Ganges River near where it emerges from the Himalayas. Many people go there to bathe in the river. We went to attend the evening Aarti, when people float lighted flower baskets down the river as prayer offerings.

Snakes in a Basket

  Snakes in a Basket 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Note the tattoo on the hand of the handler.

Snakes on an Interplast Blog

  Cobra in Snake Charmer's Village 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Dr. Yogi has taken care of a number of patients from the snake charmers' village. He offered to take me there to see the place. He describes the snake charmers as the Gypsies of India. They live in very poor conditions and do things like pan-handling. They are all very poor. He has taken care of them free of charge as he feels they really need the help. We even saw a child while visiting who had a hemangioma (perianal) and Dr. Yogi told them to bring in the child and he would remove it. Needless to say, I was also shown the snakes, which they believe are sacred.

Sivanna Charitable Hospital

  Sivanna Charitable Hospital 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

On the way to Haridwar we stopped at the Sivanna Charitable Hospital which is run by an ashram and treats the very poor. It is very small and is very crowded with patients. We stopped there so that we could speak with the doctors who will be able to recruit many burn contracture patients for our team. Haridwar is a very interesting place with many people bathing in the river. There is much going on all the time with many vendors selling flowers, food, bangles, etc.

This is a podcast interview I did with communications and technology coordinator Seth Mazow about my site evaluation trip to India.  Check it out.

Traditional Rajasthani Performance

  Traditional Rajasthani Performance 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

I was greeted the first night with a show put on by a group of performers from Rajasthan doing traditional dances (with pots on heads) and other amazing and traditional Indian things such as eating fire and dancing on broken glass (barefooted). It was quiite a performance, followed by the mayor presenting me with the key to the city. The accompanying Indian music was really terrific.

Women Washing

  Women washing 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

This was a common scene near rivers.