SEARCH Clinic

Photographer: Alivia Bryan
From: SEARCH = inspiring work

SEARCH Clinic

The clinic is open 6 days a week and is just one of the buildings on campus. Luckily I had Leena (the other American volunteer) and Dr. Rani Bang, and the resident Dr. Sushmal to translate for me. The agricultural population must work in the morning, so the clinic does not get busy until late morning. By the afternoon, this area is packed. While observing here, I saw both minor and major ailments, the discovery of late stage cancer, botched quack doctor treatments, the marks of home remedy (such as burning of the skin to relieve gastrointestinal ailments) and more. Something that shocked me daily was the visual effects of chronic malnutrition: the stunted growth, skin blotches, chronic anemia, etc. Coming from a country where we throw away food without a thought, and farmers are paid to not grow food, it was difficult to see.