Dr Taru Jindal - A Doctors Experiments in Bihar

Dr Taru Jindal is a thirty-six-year-old doctor from Mumbai. She completed her MS in Gynaecology from the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak Medical College and Sion Hospital, Mumbai, in 2013. She remained a distinction holder throughout her MBBS and MS years. She is married to Dr Dharav Shah, a psychiatrist by profession.

Dr Taru has been invited to speak about her experiences in Bihar at many medical conferences. Her talk at TEDx Bandra25 or 55? At what age should you start the life of contribution?can be found on YouTube. She was awarded the Most Inspiring Woman of the Year awardfor Valuable Contribution in Healthcare at the Global Women Achiever Awards 2019, Mumbai. In November 2019, she was awarded the Karmaveer Chakra instituted by the International Confederation of NGOs (iCONGO) and the United Nations.

She is currently working as a lactation consultant. Her awareness posts can be found on

Praise for A Doctors Experiments in Bihar

A doctor who decides to leave security behind to do a stint in Motihari, Bihar, is as rare as she is worthy of readers for this book. It is a scintillating account of her experience and of the highs and lows that come with the challenge of improving a mismanaged medical system. An inspiring book.Kavery Nambisan

A true story, a tale of triumph, an inspiring journey undertaken by Dr Taru Jindal. A Doctors Experiments in Bihar deserves to be included as a compulsory reading for all MBBS students and young doctors. It is a fresh breath of hope and heroism.Dr Raman Kumar, President, Academy of Family Physicians of India

This lived experience of a young woman obstetrician would be great reading for anyone who wishes to take baby steps into the tough world of community health.Dr Yogesh Jain, Public health physician, Jan Swasthya Sahyog, Ganiyari, Chhattisgarh

A Doctors Experiments in Bihar is an inspiration for younger generations to participate in and celebrate the development of our nation.Sushil Sharma, Co-Founder, Aarohi and Advisor, Uttarakhand Health Initiatives

Engrossing real-life stories about hospitals beyond repair and how they can be improved. These are stories of hope, perseverance, and change led by local stakeholders.Jitendra Shah, Retired Senior Advisor at the World Bank and Asian Development Bank

Through her lessons in Bihar, Dr Taru Jindal exhorts everybody to be go beyond the boundaries of geography, knowledge, opinions and traditions and come together to make our community a better place to live in.N.K. Sudhansu, IAS, Professor of Economics, LBSNAA, Mussoorie

A testament to how our callous attitude and insensitivity towards basic public health has forced so many of our sisters and brothers to live in sub-human conditions. But it is also a testament to how a few individuals with motivation, willpower and perseverance can bring about a great change. Dr Taru Jindals writing tugs at the heart and rattles the conscience, and at the same time infuses optimism.Mudit Srivastava, IRS, Joint Commissioner of Income-tax, Gurugram

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

It is extremely inspiring to see a young doctor like Taru Jindal, out of her own volition, choose to go to an underdeveloped part of the country like Bihar and work there. In this book, Dr Taru describes her experiences of working in the Motihari District Hospital and Masarhi Health Centre. Her descriptions are vivid and mind-numbing; seeing this state of affairs of healthcare in the 21st century makes the mind restless.

Leaving Mumbai to work in a government district hospital of Motihari in Bihar must have been a challenge. All modern facilities are available in hospitals of Mumbai, but most basic amenities were absent in this hospital at Motihari. The doctors and staff there constantly looked to postpone work and avoid any responsibility. But Dr Taru, without hurting their ego, started her project change by taking up the broom herself.

Baba Amte used to say: Dont work for people, work with them. This reflects in Dr Tarus work. She remained respectful to authorities and ensured the availability of necessary equipment and infrastructural facilities. She established a rapport with the nurses, dais and ASHA workers of the hospital and trained them.

She was so engrossed in the hospital that it soon became a second home to her. She took up the responsibility to transform the system there. She worked passionately and in a mere six months things turned around; what everyone thought impossible became possible. Saint Ramdas, an influential spiritual leader in Maharashtra, used to say, Your goal will be reached for sure, but first start working towards it. Dr Taru has proved this teaching to be true through her work.

After completing her assignment in Motihari, Dr Taru started a health centre in a remote village called Masarhi near Patna. Her aim was to provide quality medical services to the most impoverished Musahar community and others living in the surrounding villages. The challenges of starting a hospital in that remote area are very different. As most trained professionals were unwilling to work in such a remote location, she formed her own healthcare staff by training locals. She handled not just the health issues of the villagers but also, with great tact, their orthodox mindset and the widely prevalent caste discrimination.

Deeply influenced by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave, she asked the rich villagers to lend a piece of their land for community farming, Samoohik Krishi, in order to improve the nutrition levels of the people of the village. She also started a village cleaning drive: Swachh Masarhi. And above all, she worked extensively on issues related to women and childrens health.

Through her story, Dr Taru makes a heartfelt appeal in this book: If every young person gives at least one year of their life to rural areas, trying to solve their long-standing problems, then the India of our dreams is not far away. This book is a must read for every medical student and every young doctor. It will prove to be a huge source of inspiration for all, especially youngsters.

Dr Prakash and Dr Mandakini Amte

Lok Biradiri Prakalp, Hemalkasa

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

ASHA: Accredited Social Health Activist

ANM: Auxillary Nurse Midwife

ANC: Ante natal Care

CRHP: Comprehensive Rural Health Project

CDR: Child Death Report

CS: Civil Surgeon

DS: Deputy Superintendent

DM: District Magistrate

DFY: Doctors For You

GNM: General Nurse Midwife

HBNC: Home Based Neonatal Care

HM: Hospital Manager

JSY: Janani Suraksha Yojana

LOC: Lady Doctor on call

MDA: Maternal Death Audit

MUAC: Mid Upper Arm Circumference

OPD: Out Patient Department

OT: Operation Theatre

PMCH: Patna Medical College and Hospital

PHC: Peripheral Health Centre

PPH: Post-Partum Haemorrhage

PIP: Project Implementation Plan

RCH: Reproductive and Child Health

SAM: Severe Acute Malnutrition

SBA: Skilled Birth Attendant

SEARCH: Society for Education, Action & Research in Community Health

TBA: Traditional Birth Attendant

WABA: World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action

PART I

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

The team at Motihari District Hospital, Bihar

THE FIRST HOUR

On the third cot, a woman was crying out loud from labour pains, trying her best to push her baby out. Two green screens shielded her from public view. Shobha, a hefty woman with a big bindi, long orange sindoor, and forearms filled with red bangles was encouraging the woman to push hard.