Alakudi

Today's events were interesting to say the lesat- our group ventured out to Alakudi, a village of about 3,000 people, for our first field visit. Despite the brutally hot weather, we explored the village, visiting the primary and secondary schools (third and second to last pictures here), and the ICDS (last picture featured here)- a childcare program that offers meals in hopes of curbing some of the malnourishment that is common in the village. Near the schools was the water tower which supplies most of the villages water and a public toilet that was supposed to serve the community but was never provided with functioning plumbing. Unfortunately there is no plumbing in the village, and open sewers line the dirt roads. We walked along an open defecation area, where farmworkers go where they please- it's understandable, given that there are no other options nearby.

We visited the ICTPH clinic- a small building with one exam room and a waiting area- and visited with a doctor there to get some ideas about what happens at the clinic, what key issues people in the village are facing, and how outreach works. We were fortunate enough to tag along on a home visit to see outreach really works- ICTPH visits families and records their basic information in android phones, and then creates maps of where patients are so that trends in health issues can be better understood. The family we visited were very welcoming, and a group of curious kids followed us throughout the village, speaking English and asking our names. I asked to take a picture of some of the girls with Erin, and an older woman saw me take the photograph and motioned for me to take her picture as well. A group of rambunctious boys jumped in front of her to have their picture taken as well, making for a silly picture.

Following our home visit, we trekked out to the outskirts of town, following the periphery of the rice paddies, to the PHC- a government primary health clinic. A doctor met with us and was kind enough to answer our questions, of which we had many. We tried to gain a better understanding of what role the government health center plays in the community, versus the role of private companies like ICTPH. We have a lot to learn!