Our Trip to Dharwad Forest

I had an unforgettable time during my trip to Dharwad Forest. I learned more about the forest, the villages, and their culture. It was great to be able to experience the forest and its sereneness. While we were in the forest, we visited an Ayurveda doctor. Dr. Desai gave us a tour through his garden and showed us different plants and what they can be used for. I enjoyed learning about Ayurveda because it is a holistic approach to health and well-being. He told us that he is working with scientists at universities in India to research Ayurveda and its effectiveness in treating different illnesses. We had the opportunity to see a mobile clinic at a village. The doctor and his team have everything set up in the van they use for transportation. Having the mobile clinic come to the village is amazing for the people so they can see a doctor without having to travel far from the village.

This photograph was taken at the train station in Dharwad.

This is at the train station, at the beginning of our journey to the forest.

In this picture, the owner was showing us the bees that produce the honey on his farm.

I had the opportunity to meet a baby elephant!

We saw a great show of dancing and music native to the villages here. They are performed usually all throughout the night.

We learned how to make sugarcane juice using this machine, and we even practiced making it!

Dr. Desai, an Ayurveda Doctor, showed us different herbal plants on a tour through his garden.

Dr. Desai explained to us what different plants would alleviate or cure, such as belulibali for sinus infections, and doda patre for kidney stones.

After we had a discussion with Dr. Desai, I had the chance to get a picture with him.

This is a stunning view of Kurandi Dam; we took a boat ride here on the lake.

While on the boat ride, we spotted a bison walking around.

This is a beautiful sunrise at the chalet we stayed in.

We visited a village here in the forest. A mobile doctor came to treat the people here. Since hospitals are far away from the village, it is helpful to have the doctor come and provide healthcare.

Here is a picture of the village we visited.

A beautiful girl in her village home.

Here are a few other children in the village.

The kind people in the village served us lunch on a banana leaf.

I took a picture with some of the children who live in the village.

PHRII Cervical Camp

During this trip abroad in India, we attended classes at the Public Health Research Institute of India. The PHRII staff were welcoming and kind to us from the very beginning of the trip with a ceremony just for us. It was so great to see them “in action” during the clinic. They had told us before what they do when they set up and conduct a clinic. This time we saw them throughout the process, and it was a great learning experience. I really like how PHRII incorporates education and awareness about cervical health. They try to make the women feel comfortable throughout the whole process. The most common cancer for women in India is cervical cancer so it is important for women to get a routine screening. The staff uses animated flip charts to show the women with visuals what the procedure is like. In the pictures below, you will see there are different stages for the women in the screening. They go to a group counseling session first to hear general information about the screening, and then they have a one on one counseling session. After this session, they go into the exam room to see the doctor and nurses for the screening. It was amazing being able to see how the clinic works at a village community. I learned a lot and enjoyed meeting the children and women in the village.

This is a group picture of the PHRII team before they set up the cervical screening clinic at a village community.

Here is a picture of the PHRII staff and one of my classmates setting up the exam room.

Here is a picture with the exam room almost finished.

Rashmi explained to us how the cervical screening clinic runs and what kind of care is given to each woman in the village.

Fazila is the group counselor for the clinic. When the women first arrive at the clinic, Fazila talks to them in a large group. She explains what they will do in the screening and provides education about the prevention of cervical cancer.

Here are some of the PHRII staff! They are so welcoming and willing to share with us the care they provide in many village communities.

Fazila is providing general information about the cervix, and the importance of being screened in order to help prevent cervical cancer.

After the women finish the group counseling session, they register with Rashmi for the screening. She asks them a few questions about their health and checks their blood pressure, height, and weight.

Fazila is measuring the height of one of the women living in the village.

After a woman finishes registering for the screening, she goes to a one on one counselor to discuss her health history more in depth and any other concerns she may have.

Two of my classmates, Isabella and Juliana, are observing the one on one counselor session.

Here is a picture of another group counselor session with Fazila.

Natalie is measuring the height of one of the women while they were registering.

Here is a picture of me with some of the children I met who live in the village.

The children were so friendly!

Another picture of these sweet girls in the village.

Here is a picture of the one of the educational flip charts that Fazila would use to teach the women about cervical cancer.

This is an example of a page that shows what a healthy cervix looks like, as well as examples of cervixes with common problems, such as cysts, polyps, or inflammation of the cervix.

The children in the village were waving us goodbye as we drove away!