The Chaos Within - Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Yesterday I was at the Bojwani Academy. It is a school. A school with a particular philosophy of education that would be alien to other mainstream schools in this city.
At best, in other schools, while the holistic development of a child is often deliberated upon it is rarely followed through with. And when speaking of a holistic approach, integral to developing a child is sex education.
Reports in the local newspapers about sex education being banned, bonfires of new text books with lurid drawings, and the righteous indignation of hard right politicians is tempered with the national report that over 50% of kids in India are 'severely' sexually abused.
Why did the writers of the report feel the need to use the word 'severe.' Is there a kind of sexual abuse of children that is gentle? Acceptable? An anchor story in a newspaper is hardly the vehicle to understand such a complex issue. The report will have to be read!
Bottom line, cries of NO SEX EDUCATION PLEASE THIS IS MAHARASHTRA is a fucked up nonsense.
We work at the grassroots with HIV. The statistic that 85% of HIV transmission in the state is through unprotected sex is not a statistic to us. We see it. Thankfully, Bojwani sees it too. When I pulled out a dildo and flourished it no one batted an eyelid and the 30 something boys and girls (average age 15) watched intently as the condom went on... and then came off. After the session they wanted to try it themselves, of course with all accompanying sniggering that teenagers are wont to do when feeling embarressed or challenged. The questions and concerns these children... young men and women, came up with in the course of an hour and a half underscored Bojwani's approach to education. The questions and comments were lucid and forthright, and also just a little bit awkward, as they should be at this age.
Today put yesterday, and the need for yesterday in to sharp perspective. I walked into the community to visit two of my clients who are very ill. The area in which they live is the same area where Jyoti lived, and as I walked by some recognized me and with a puzzled look they asked - because they knew she was gone - are you here to see Lagad? I smiled, and reminded myself of why I had cut down visits into the community... the 'DISHA Sir's' visits give away the client's status.
The second visit was to a client badly in need of 2nd line ART. It costs Rs.5500 a month. ART is a lifelong commitment. I had thus far refused to help because of the lack of sustainability. Today the family pledged Rs.2000 a month. The client lay on his back unable to speak, his body shivering with pain, his stomach contracting... he lay scrunched up, tormented, wanting nothing more than to die, to end the suffering.
The decisions we take are often onerous... their name is legion.
The client, his family, the physician that first put him of ART (with no adherence counselling), the village elders (thought it best he remain in the city), his colleagues (they are willing to raise funds for him), Maya and Lata (primary care givers), Avinash, Dr. Madhu (our HIV specialist), me (should we have taken this decision earlier, should I have waited until I saw his torment, could I have not ensured that this man was back on his feet by saying yes, we will sponsor your 2nd line ART.)
Every one of us has taken a decision that brought us to where we were at that moment, kneeling by his side, holding the hand of a grown man as he repeatedly convulsed in pain.
What about the others that will now demand it? What now? How do we proceed? What will be our policy towards 2nd line ART? Has it changed because I could not bear to watch a man suffer in front of me when my decision had the potential to ease his suffering? What will we do to strengthen the delivery mechanisms of 1st line ART? What do we do to educate the local doctors and health care givers about ART and HIV? Will our plans work for Tadiwala Road and Ramtekadi? Will Wake Up Pune make the difference we hope for at NACO/NARI run ART clinics by forming a crucial partnership between civil society and the government?
The questions are legion too, and the answers... But we will find them. Together.
The client is now with Dr. Madhu as she determines which regimen of 2nd line ART would be best for him.
We will find the funds.
He will live.
And Tomorrow... the dance goes on.
At best, in other schools, while the holistic development of a child is often deliberated upon it is rarely followed through with. And when speaking of a holistic approach, integral to developing a child is sex education.
Reports in the local newspapers about sex education being banned, bonfires of new text books with lurid drawings, and the righteous indignation of hard right politicians is tempered with the national report that over 50% of kids in India are 'severely' sexually abused.
Why did the writers of the report feel the need to use the word 'severe.' Is there a kind of sexual abuse of children that is gentle? Acceptable? An anchor story in a newspaper is hardly the vehicle to understand such a complex issue. The report will have to be read!
Bottom line, cries of NO SEX EDUCATION PLEASE THIS IS MAHARASHTRA is a fucked up nonsense.
We work at the grassroots with HIV. The statistic that 85% of HIV transmission in the state is through unprotected sex is not a statistic to us. We see it. Thankfully, Bojwani sees it too. When I pulled out a dildo and flourished it no one batted an eyelid and the 30 something boys and girls (average age 15) watched intently as the condom went on... and then came off. After the session they wanted to try it themselves, of course with all accompanying sniggering that teenagers are wont to do when feeling embarressed or challenged. The questions and concerns these children... young men and women, came up with in the course of an hour and a half underscored Bojwani's approach to education. The questions and comments were lucid and forthright, and also just a little bit awkward, as they should be at this age.
Today put yesterday, and the need for yesterday in to sharp perspective. I walked into the community to visit two of my clients who are very ill. The area in which they live is the same area where Jyoti lived, and as I walked by some recognized me and with a puzzled look they asked - because they knew she was gone - are you here to see Lagad? I smiled, and reminded myself of why I had cut down visits into the community... the 'DISHA Sir's' visits give away the client's status.
The second visit was to a client badly in need of 2nd line ART. It costs Rs.5500 a month. ART is a lifelong commitment. I had thus far refused to help because of the lack of sustainability. Today the family pledged Rs.2000 a month. The client lay on his back unable to speak, his body shivering with pain, his stomach contracting... he lay scrunched up, tormented, wanting nothing more than to die, to end the suffering.
The decisions we take are often onerous... their name is legion.
The client, his family, the physician that first put him of ART (with no adherence counselling), the village elders (thought it best he remain in the city), his colleagues (they are willing to raise funds for him), Maya and Lata (primary care givers), Avinash, Dr. Madhu (our HIV specialist), me (should we have taken this decision earlier, should I have waited until I saw his torment, could I have not ensured that this man was back on his feet by saying yes, we will sponsor your 2nd line ART.)
Every one of us has taken a decision that brought us to where we were at that moment, kneeling by his side, holding the hand of a grown man as he repeatedly convulsed in pain.
What about the others that will now demand it? What now? How do we proceed? What will be our policy towards 2nd line ART? Has it changed because I could not bear to watch a man suffer in front of me when my decision had the potential to ease his suffering? What will we do to strengthen the delivery mechanisms of 1st line ART? What do we do to educate the local doctors and health care givers about ART and HIV? Will our plans work for Tadiwala Road and Ramtekadi? Will Wake Up Pune make the difference we hope for at NACO/NARI run ART clinics by forming a crucial partnership between civil society and the government?
The questions are legion too, and the answers... But we will find them. Together.
The client is now with Dr. Madhu as she determines which regimen of 2nd line ART would be best for him.
We will find the funds.
He will live.
And Tomorrow... the dance goes on.
posted by Deep Griha at 1:00 am
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