(The present reporting article is based on telephonic interview with Dr. Abhijeet More, Aam Aadmi Party, Pune, dated 25th September 2019)
The glittering lights of Indian cities often mask darkness of lives in certain section of neighborhoods – this darkness is might of the poverty, the lack of education, the social conflicts or the ill-health.
But, here comes an inspiring story of how some citizens from city of Pune, Maharashtra have successfully started fighting for their health rights. This fight is being led by Aam Adami Party (AAP), Pune in collaboration with 7-8 local organizations and active citizens.
Why people had to raise their voice against city health authorities?
Kothrud is one of the well-off localities in western parts of Pune. Like any typical urban structure, poor bastis do exist in shadows of multi-floor apartments. These neighborhoods are home for population involved in occupations like daily wage labour, housemaids, auto rickshaw driving etc.
Sutar Hospital is the only public hospital in Kothrud locality that offers maternity services. The hospital provides the service for normal child delivery, but not the Cesarean section (C-section). This is despite of budget provisions, availability of updated equipment and trained gynecologists. After giving the written application for C-section facility demand in January 2019, the hospital started with a few planned C-section surgeries for time-being. But the hospital is of no use if a woman or fetus faces emergency pregnancy complications.
Another public health facility near Gosavi Basti of Kothurd, is the Late Bindumadhav Thakrey Hospital. This six floor building was inaugurated with an appealing publicity in year 2011. But practically remained non-functional till date, except an Out-Patient Department (OPD) that ran for some days in the first floor of huge building. Above all, eventually the general committee governing hospital has decided to allocate the 2nd to 5th floors to a private school for deaf and dumb children, which is an illegal move.
The residents from bastis in Kothrud areas, when they are ill, have no option but to travel public hospitals like Kamla Nehru hospital or Sasoon which are relatively distant. Travelling there in traffic of Pune becomes a challenge. As a result, expensive private healthcare facilities become the saviors for poor families but at the cost of burden on their pocket or becoming victim in the trap of debt.
How did the “right for health” fight begin?
AAP team from Kothrud area initiated mobilizing the citizens from poor neighborhoods of Kothrud with basti meetings in January 2019. This was under leadership of Dr. Abhijeet More, who is Medical Doctor by profession, is associated with health right activist movements as well AAP.
The issue was brought in consciousness of people from neighborhoods. The detailed discussions with citizens helped in creating a common understanding. Area near Sutar hospital hosts crowded vegetable market. This helped reaching more and more people.
The straight forward demands of activating and improving existing public health facilities didn’t bring much debate in dialogue. People, especially women started supporting the cause. For thakrey hospital, 800 families even signed on written application which was submitted to Municipal Corporation authorities.
Apathy from authorities compelled people to strike
Even after the written application and people’s rallies to zonal offices, the response from authorities was full of neglect and absolutely didn’t assure the sign of justice in case of both hospitals. Despite having women elected representatives in this locality, there was no green signal even for women specific health demands.
Ultimately Dr. Abhijeet announced the hunger strike by AAP. The first strike began for Sutar hospital services in August 2019. Another one was followed for Thakrey hospital in month of September. The women support in overall protest with clear demand of “Right to health” was remarkable. Despite the heavy rainfall, people continued their fight.
“People didn’t demand services of hospital, so we kept Thakrey hospital closed” – this was the casual statement made by one of the elected members further increased rage among protestors and they simply determined to make the hospital services active.
… And the first milestone of success has been achieved
In August, first step of success can be called when the municipal ward councilor provided a written assurance letter to start the demanded emergency C-section services in Sutar hospital. This assurance helped to boost enthusiasm of people. This was also important to gain support for protest for Thakrey hospital next month.
Even in case of Thakrey hospital, after three days of Hunger strike by Dr. Abhijeet, the written assurance has been received to put up a proposal for fully functional hospital building, in general committee meeting of hospital, which is scheduled in month of November.
One of the women involved in protest shared– “It was a cheerful moment to see somebody is fighting for the cause that’s going to make quality of our life better.”
This simple but important opinion summarizes two things
- There is a selective attention of city authorities to needs of only certain sections of population.
- A small ray of hope can ignite the path towards the dream of equity.