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Visit to Gaganbawada Taluka

Among the twelve tehsils of Kolhapur district, Gaganba wada is a nature lover’s paradise. Home to Malabar pied hornbill Tehsil of Gaganbawada is 55 km from Kolhapur. The population of 32,545 (lowest in Kolhapur district) Gaganbawada is served by 1 rural hospital, 2 public health centres and 9 subcentres of which 4 are in Nivade and 5 are in Garivade. The tehsil sees an inflow of migrating population during the sugar cane cutting season.

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Gaganbawada experiences second highest rainfall in Maharashtra of about 4000 mm, causing a few villages to cut off from the central health facility and skilled man power to address health emergencies and arrange for medical supplies.

The fellows were given a warm welcome and insights were shared courtesy Mr. Vikas Bhalerao tehsildar and executive magistrate. First on the list was a stop at the tehsildar and executive magistrate’s meeting hall, where a group of asha’s, anganwaadi sevika and rural hospital nursing staff were invited to share their views, everyday issues, experiences on the field and comments.

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Next on the stop was the rural hospital at Gaganbavada. The fellows were given feedback from Dr. Shreyas Juvekar and insight into the world of clinical management of emergencies.

The rural hospital has been able to handle vasectomy, hystertonomy, tubectonomy, emergency deliveries. The hospital is equipped with IPD facility, 1 ambulance, There is a shortage of specialist therefore, sterilization surgeries are planned in advance. Immunization for newborns and toddlers is successfully handled, apart from emergencies such as dog bite, snake bite and wolf bite.

The next stop was a residential school for girls who drop out from primary school. A zilla parishad run school Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya. The fellows meet and interacted with the girls understanding their backgrounds, motivation and aspirations. There are about 118 residents from 6th grade uptil 10th grade. They are taught vocational skills along with state approved curriculum.

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The final destination on the agenda was a Public Healthcare Centre at Nivade. The PHC is well equipped to handle emergency deliveries, sterilization for men and women, temporary isolation of TB suspected subjects. The PHC reported 6 infants in the last year and 1 malaria patient.