5th March ~ The Model PHC

As told, we got ready that morning in time thanks to the sweet teacher who rescued our dosa dough by making dosas at her home for us and I went to Gumballi while Terese stayed at the OPD in VGKK.

In the bus to Gumballi, I had this different feeling of happiness. It felt like my first small adventure as a doctor. So, the PHC in Gumballi, to be precise in Uppinamole, is a NABH accredited 24X7 PHC, a model PHC, one of the many such PHCs started by Karuna Trust all over the country in association with VGKK.

I entered into the doctor’s chamber, Dr. Ramprasad, and he graciously let me take a seat and help him see the patients waiting. After a while he took off and let me experience the crowd that he probably treats everyday while hearing the drilling of teeth from the next door. Yes, there is a dental OPD as well! Next to which a new born was lying with her tired mother. She was brought for delivery that morning by an ASHA worker. Time flew as I tried my best to treat the patients and soon was having chapathis at the fine canteen there. 

 What makes this PHC so different and better compared to a regular PHC is that it provides services that are not termed Primary health care in the conventional sense. Every wedneday patients are admitted to the first floor who suffer from cataract and get operated on Thursday and reach their homes with a new sight on Friday! Just like how its done at KR hospital, Mysore which is by the way a tertiary care hospital. Heard that they will be tying up with a similar great initiative Aravind eye hospitals which will only make things better here.  

Chronic illnesses which require regular filling of drugs like epilepsy, mental illnesses, non-communicable diseases like Diabetes and Hypertension are taken care of, too. Different specialists come on various days of the week like a specialist for Diabetes on Wednesdays and ENT surgeon some other day.

 The idea of making and running such a successful PHC and catering to the many once unreached people thrilled me. It’s a Public-private parternship initiaitive which according to me is one of the reasons for its efficiency.       

I was taken back in the jeep by the driver Suresh along with the amazing headmaster who showed us stars previously. He told me stories all along the ride back to VGKK which made me search and read about the work of VGKK and Karuna Trust in 
 Community Planning and Monitoring of Health Services - Karnataka Experience.