AYUSHMAN BHARAT - LIVE EXPERIENCE OF THE PROJECT

Ayushman Bharat - the medical reach project launched for all Indian citizens has been talked about with much fanfare. And equal limelight it has got for being just another government project. For most of the Indians who like or despise their motherland or fatherland (whatever you, the reader, may call your homeland), any project that is backed by the government brings with it a lot of patriotism and cynicism.

I could list myself among the same lot. Sometimes on one side of the balance and on the other days possibly on the other side. That is how beautiful we Indians are. We love and hate at the same time. There is no misgiving here. It would be wrong to look at the world with the prism of black or white. Mostly the world and its working is in the unknown and that is how we Indians love to think of ourselves. We are Multi-layered, one may say. True that!

Coming back to the topic at hand. Is the project and the multitude of this nation moving towards the right path? Well my experience today helped me think a little deeper. The reason I had to think deeper was on account of a very personal experience.

Background information

I don't know if it is common to be bitten by a feral animal and that too one which has been fed by you for a good amount of time. Possibly we as humans look at these things in a singular tone unless we think deeper. The answer to the question above might be an affirmative for some and a negative for others. What side is the winner? That is possibly for each of us to independently decide.

In my case my first thought was - this should not be the case. After all, the canine is always seen as a loyal friend. And the canine species is equally seen as one that is emotive. That was the key. The species is definitely an emotive one like we all are ought to be. In times of duress don't we as the smarter species go back to the animal instinct in us! Yes, we very much do.

A bit of a background to the episode. I have been for the past 5-6 months feeding a set of canine puppies that a canine female has had near my place of abode. The fact that slowly over the months the feral puppies had lost their lives due to multiple reasons. Some as mundane as they just disappeared while others were lost as roadkill. Having seen only one single pup now reached its juvenile days made me more attuned to its needs every morning or evening whenever I could see it.

A solitary life

Lately it was getting evident that its life was quite solitary. While most of the other pups which had been born possibly a few weeks to maybe a month prior to other canines had grown well by now and were slowly becoming a part of a healthy kennel, this one had a different story to tell.

Most of the morning I would be woken by its plea for help as the kennel would be attacking it for reasons only they would contemplate. Maybe it started daunting on me that since it was a lone ranger it was out of the laid hierarchy that was among the feral dogs. It was needed to pick on those who are solitary. Either it will join them in the hierarchy at an appropriate level. Or it would end up being the outlet of bantering for the lesser hierarchy. Everyone needs an outlet. Right? Philosophical, you might say! Well, don't know!

Every morning it would feed and I would leave for my professional tasks having a feeling of day well started. Helping a life in need was always a good feeling. It was my own way of seeing a legacy getting created. Already there was one that I was already happy about. In the past many years our home had been a sanctuary for feral cats to leave their kittens behind for us to raise into adulthood. But that is a story for a different time and date possibly.

Today's happenings

This morning similar pleas of help woke me out of my slumber. I looked around out of the balcony and could hear the howling but couldn't see much due to the foggy atmosphere around. There was silence and no more pleas resounding the ears. I thought it was possibly controlled at their independent levels. I walked back, to rekindle back in slumber. Plea’s abound again.

I walked out to the front door and saw the kennel in attack mode on the juvenile. Rushed out. Tried to move the elder lot out of the periphery by using my javelin skills until an area that I could have defended. The kennel dispersed in a matter of seconds but still looking around for a possible opening to return. Started whistling in my known way for the juvenile to come out of hiding and that is exactly what transpired.

Some aversion achieved in time

The juvenile was soon following me back home beyond the gates that brought it back to an area which could give respite for sometime. Got some milk, mixed with a bit of tap water and poured out in a container for it to slurp upon. Mixed some tap water - for those who are not aware, if in case you ever need to feed a canine or a cat some milk, dilute it to possibly match it nearest to its mother's milk. Cows milk is comparatively thicker than that of our cat and dog friends.

By the time it was slurping through the bowl of diluted milk, I got some fresh raw meat to consume as was the case at regular intervals. I have learnt over experience that feral animals if given food that they will find in natural habitat, they remain feral and hence propagate easily. In a way it's a possible way of making sure they are not dependent on our food patterns.

I sat by a corner until it was done with the bowl and it came to my side looking for food possibly. I gave some bits on the floor. It gulped it down. Much faster than normal. This should have been my cue that it was much hungrier than always. Possibly due to the stress it had gone through the past 24+hrs having to fend off the kennel. My mistake - I had some more in my other hand which I was thinking of giving it at a slower pace.

Making the mistake

This I understand was a wrong move. I latched on to my hand as I was about to lay more pieces on the ground. Understanding the fault, I did what I could, let go of the pieces from all hands and hope the focus changed. It did. My chance was there. I rushed back in. Cleaned the area of punctures and scratches with running water. Got hold of some fresh cloth and covered the entire area. 

Got my keys, wallet and stuff and moved out for the clinic. While moving out of the garage, I realized that even my legs had some marks that were now getting evidently visible with some blood oozing out. I wondered - when did it latch on there too?

Reaching to the doctors place, I rushed in to seek inputs on what is to be done. Was guided to the Government clinic as dog bites are better dealt via them. I didn't understand why? Anyways - whatever he says - I mused. I reached the Government clinic that came under the aegis of Ayushman Bharat. It was a fairly setup unit. Only concern, no “May I Help You” kind of welcome that we are all expected to. I moved around asking the clinic reps on where to go. They guided me to the required rooms. Got the registration and stuff done. Was taken in. Got one injection into me within possibly of the first 7 minutes I was there. Yes - 7 minutes! I was still counting and being watchful of the time.

There's always a twist

Now the hard news! The rabies drug was out of stock and it is required to be administered as a precaution. If not here where? I was informed of the same being surely there at one of the main central hospitals of the city as all of them fell under aegis of Ayushman Bharat. I inquired what if it's available with local medical shops. They said they would administer it if I got it to them. I thought of course. Rushed out. Drove back. Found the medical unit. 1st one - we don't keep! Lets try another, i said to self musing. Found the biggest of the lot in the vicinity. Got a jolt. They don't keep it either. I was like seriously? Why?

Contemplating my next move. Self musing to the rescue. Lets drive to one of the main central hospitals. It's not that far rather than hunting for the drug in all stores and wasting time. Nearest was GMERS. Drove there. Seemed today all humanity was trying to slow me down. Roads jam packed! Ugh! Why this traffic today? Self-musing - its weekends! Plus it's rush hour! Breathe!

Help from within

After a bit of help from self-musing, I was able to reach the city hospital. It's damn filled with so many people! When will I get my chance? How much will I have to wait? So many Q’s came about! I just went with the flow. Got a token. Got registered. They asked me for the registration fee of INR 5! What 5? Are you serious? They were! OK.

What next. Informed to reach the consulting for this issue on floor 1. Rushed there. Waited for some time at the reception desk. Asked to wait in the line. I heard almost every other person talking about Ayushman Bharat! Well, OK! What exactly is happening under Ayushman Bharat - I mused! Within minutes the line moved. I was in the consulting room with the doctors team in less than 11 minutes. Yes! I was still frantically counting time! Wouldn't you? Well who wouldn’t!

Was transferred to another room in the opposite direction of the one I was in. A special set of team-members to manage dog bite cases. Got there! Few Q&A’s. Checking the wounds. Prescription written. Now to another room to administer the prescription. Administered the drugs and timelines given for the next few days to weeks for the concern. Out of the clinic and driving back home!

Total time of the episode : possibly 2 hours

Travel time to clinics : possibly around 55 minutes end to end

Travel time hunting for drugs : possibly around 15 minutes end to end

Waiting time at the clinics : 25 minutes end to end

Time with the administering teams (doctors and sisters) : 12 minutes end to end

The rest 13 minutes - a mix and match of things. Starting from contemplating what should be my next move. And yes, also a pit stop for refueling! Yeah! You read it right! I was by now running on fumes!

Overall experience

Quite good! If this is how the nation is being looked after - am proud to be paying my taxes! It came back to me today! It is possibly reaching a lot of my brothers and sisters! Out of pain and into a new feeling of national-pride! All in a matter of INR 5. That is all they asked me to pay. I stand bewildered, happy and in pride. Ayushman Bharat - a changed perspective.

Salutations, Oh Motherland! Vande Mataram!