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IFRE: Delhi, India. Nandini Raghuraman MS-2. India. Largest democracy in the world Population: 1,147,995,898 (July, 2008) Life expectancy at birth: 69.25 years Sex ratio: 1.06 male(s)/female 41.6% of population living below the international poverty line. A Nation of Many Tongues.
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IFRE: Delhi, India Nandini Raghuraman MS-2
India • Largest democracy in the world • Population: 1,147,995,898 (July, 2008) • Life expectancy at birth: 69.25 years • Sex ratio: 1.06 male(s)/female • 41.6% of population living below the international poverty line
A Nation of Many Tongues • Hindi is the national language • 14 other official languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskri
Healthcare in India “…one episode of hospitalization [in India] is estimated to account for 58% of per capita annual expenditure…even more disconcerting is the fact that 40% of those hospitalized had to borrow money or sell off assets.” (World Bank, 2002) • No third party paying mechanism • Employees State Insurance, Central Government Health Scheme, Business Corporations • 80% of primary care is delivered in private institutions
Healthcare cont’d • Average of 1.5 beds/1000 • Lack of healthcare facilities in semi-urban and rural areas, where 70% of the Indian population resides • Government healthcare facilities are poorly maintained • Major obstacles: lack of resources, a manually operated health management information system, lack of focus on preventative care, gender disparity
My Project • Institute of Field Research and Expedition (IFRE) • International volunteer program that has projects set up in 18 different countries. • Education, healthcare, orphanage work, specific issues. • My specific project: Healthcare in Delhi, India 1) Voluntary ambulance work serving the underprivileged elderly. 2) Pediatric work in a children’s hospital.
HelpAge • Non-profit organization established to serve and improve the lives of disadvantaged older population • Mobile medical care unit set up to provide basic medical care • In country of 81 million elderly people, 33% live below the poverty line. • 73% of the elderly population is illiterate and dependent on physical labor.
Kalra Childcare Centre • Private 2-floor hospital • Run by a single doctor, Dr. Rajan Kalra • Malaria, hepatitis, measles, tapeworm, viral fever • Vaccinations • Neonatology • Nursery clinic
Cultural Experience • Host family • Transportation to and from projects- Rickshaws • Indian meals- 3x a day • Language practice • Markets • Sightseeing on weekends
Sightseeing • New Delhi • Old Delhi • Agra • Jaipur • Great way to learn about Indian history.
Prices IFRE Program Fee $881 Airfare $1800 Vaccinations $200 Transportation (in India) $45 Sightseeing $200 $3126