Spreading Hope in the Slums of Delhi

It is difficult to understand how healthcare can work in the slums without standing amidst the hostile landscape of trash and broken glass where both pigs and young children play; without breathing in the sour odor of feces and fumes; without tiptoeing past families squeezed into shelters no larger than 6 x 5 feet. During my practicum with Asha, an organization dedicated to delivering healthcare in the slums of Delhi, I explored first-hand the burgeoning public health crisis of poor child health in urban slum environments. The focus of my fieldwork has been collaborating with Asha staff to research opportunities for funding and to write grant proposals in order to sustain and build upon Asha's programmatic activities. Through my experience, I have gained valuable skills in analytical writing, cultural competence, and communicating with those on the front lines of healthcare provision in resource-constrained settings. Without being in India, without living next to the slums or working one-on-one with Asha's team of experts, I would not be able to communicate so knowledgeably and so passionately about child health among urban poor in the developing world. My practicum with Asha in India has inspired me to work toward improving child health in urban developing environments and to create innovative ways of sharing my knowledge and experience with others.