So let’s back up: After visiting the Hospital in Mirage www.wanlesshospital.org & checking out Kohlapur, we spent a morning with Dr. Rabentish checking out the community health centers Wanless runs in neighboring communities. The first health center was nicely apportioned with a delivery room, pharamacy, and daycare. See the kids in the daycare below:PICT0006

The second clinic we visited took place in a small cement building that housed the local government & other civic organizations when not in use by the clinic. Women & children were packed inside its small walls waiting for immunizations for their children: polio, tetnus, etc…

Some of the many innovative community health programs that take place under the experitise of Dr. Rabentish include a loan/grant program for women to purchase goats or bullocks to use for milk, breeding, and other sources of income; working with communities to build latrines & safe water sources; using lay health advisors (trusted members of the community who receive training and a small honorarium) to educate villagers on hygene, contraception, and even AIDS.

This scene below — two nurses administering an immunization to a small baby in its mother’s arms — totally reminded me of my time in the batays of the Dominican Republic.

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