The street medicine program began operations in 2006 and is aimed at people living on the streets or in slums of Kolkata who are in urgent need of medical care.
The needy of the program
Most of the men supported by Calcutta Rescue's street medicine program are rickshaw drivers, bicycle transporters, street wipers, paper and garbage collectors or day laborers and earn 40 to 60 Indian rupees (approx. 50 centimes) a day. At the same time, women often earn even less. Many of them work as maids or ragpickers, while others are left to beg. In addition, most of their children do not go to school. Those who do attend school do so only irregularly. The health of these people is generally poor. Malnutrition is not uncommon and many suffer from recurrent coughs, colds, diarrhea and fever. Their health awareness is minimal or non-existent. It is not surprising that addiction and physical and sexual violence are widespread among these people.
The road medicine team
The two teams of the street medicine program each consist of a doctor and health personnel. They regularly travel to various neighborhoods and slums in two health buses. The marginalized people of Kolkata are offered holistic medical and social help. This includes disease prevention, curative treatment as well as training and education on health issues. This includes deworming, treatment of lice infestation and scabies (mites) or prophylactic administration of vitamin A.
Patients with common, minor illnesses are treated on site, while those with more serious or chronic illnesses are referred to one of Calcutta Rescue's clinics or to state institutions. Vaccinations for children are also carried out in the Calcutta Rescue clinics. Health education is an integral part of the support provided and covers topics such as worm infestation, vitamin A deficiency, immunization, antenatal and postnatal care, leprosy, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, hygiene and nutrition. The aim is to promote general health awareness among the population.
Read the report by Sean Duggan when he spent a day in a slum with the street medicine bus.
Reports on the road medicine program
In our newsletter we regularly report on the street medicine projects in Kolkata. Read the latest reports from our team on site here.