MICDA Mathamma updateJan 20, 2009
Sunil Laxman ( linuslax (at) yahoo (dot) com)
During my site visit to the MICDA school and the habitation/land, Dr. Subbaramaiah and I were able to comprehensively discuss the results of the Mathamma project.
I was also able to observe first hand the amount of work that had been done. The record keeping by the 19 social workers and coordinators for the Matamma project is astounding. There are over 20 files and a large number of books/registers, which occupy an entire car trunk. In this are the details of all the work that has been done. It is not surprising now to understand why Dr. S was not able to send all these updates to us in the States. Each social worker had a huge number of files, registers, photographs (film) and notes for each mandal, and pretty much about every Madiga community in the area (listed for each village).
The total work done covers a large number of areas, focusing on the Mathammas as well as the entire Madiga community, in the approximately 20 mandals. The community has benefited tremendously from MICDAs work. Well over 300 disabled individuals were found and the social workers managed to obtain government disabled certificates for them. This entitles them all to Rs. 500 from the government. In addition, a number of disabled people have now been issued tricycles, better crutches, wheelchairs etc.
A very large number of people were taken for medical exams at the government hospitals in the area. For many of them, it was the first time visiting a real doctor. There were a large number of tuberculosis patients found (in addition to other diseases), for which the workers ensured treatment. In addition, for dozens of pregnant women, the social workers ensured medical checkups, and provided tonics/iron supplements, and tested for anemia etc. A number of immunizations were also carried out for the large number of children there (for polio, MMR etc). Again, this was probably the first time that this had been done in the community. A large number of older Madiga community members were taken for cataract operations, glaucomas etc.
A significant number (dozens) of mathammas were taken out of the practice, and many of them were also married to men of their choice. In addition, there was a significant effort by them to reduce the annual Mathamma festivals.
Overall, it appears that MICDA has earned a very good name with the Madiga community and even now, when they pass by a Madiga habitation, they are asked if they have any “schemes” for them.
Dr. S then talked about his intention of continuing a project, but this time only focusing on the Mathammas alone, and not expending this much effort on the entire Madiga community. From their efforts, MICDA has found that the HIV rate/AIDS infectivity in this community (amongst Mathammas and also the greater Madiga population) is very high. Dr. S wants to start a project (especially now that they have so much data on the habitations and the community) built around this. With around 10 social workers (preferably women), coordinated by some kind of trained medical coordinator (say a senior nurse), and with access to a jeep or van, they could take large numbers of Mathammas and other women in the community (particularly if they are pregnant) for tests (including prenatal tests) in government hospitals. Dr. S has now been promoted, and is in charge of the government hospital in Puttur, and has better access to the hospitals in the area.
If HIV positive patients are found, they can be provided anti-retroviral drugs (which the government hugely subsidizes and provides). In addition, the MICDA workers can have a focused campaign within the community on HIV/AIDS awareness, and educate both Mathammas and the greater community on this issue. Hopefully, once they realize that this is pretty much incurable and will result in death, there will be a dramatic reduction in the Mathamma practice (and the associated prostitution/sex trade) in the area.
While I think this is a very good idea, particularly since Dr. S is less stressed now (with the resolution of the land problems), there are a couple of problems. Primarily, this is a very expensive project, and (given the current economic conditions), I do not know if Seattle or another chapter can raise the funds. While there are the TVS mopeds from the previous Mathamma project, there will be a need for a van/jeep (cost ~ Rs 4 lakh/10000), and the salaries of the social workers (if they are trained nurses etc it will cost Rs 6000 or so per worker per month). Secondly, Dr. S’s health is slowly improving (after resolving the land issue). I’m not sure he needs the stress this project will involve, though as always he really wants to start this project and improve the community. We will definitely have to restart the fellowship for him if we decide to support this project.
This is something we will have to think hard about. While it is a very worthy project, and the previous MICDA efforts were superb, it will be another huge commitment for Dr. S as well as us. On the other hand, the impact is huge, and the scale of the project/community size is massive, and the need is significant. So this is something we have to decide.