It was 29th July 1985 when I formally initiatedPublic health as carrier and joined as Senior Resident and MD Student in the Department of Community Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi. It was euphoria of starting the carrier.
I was just settling in the department along with my colleague when an order of posting at Rural Health Centre, Chiraigaon was served to us. It gave us an instant feeling of discomfort. I neverhad an experience of living in the rural area and it was posting for two years.
Rural Heath Training Centre, Chiraigaon was two-story building, Ground floor dedicated for administrative academic purposes with a number of smaller rooms for residents and medical officers and other staff, one for lab.
and a lecture cum demonstration hall. The firstfloor was dedicatedfor residential purposesone wing for residents and other officers and other wing for medical interns of rural postings. At that time, Research officer of an in-house project was the only other resident of that building as interns used to prefer day visit during their postings. There was a separate building for Lecturer cum in-charge of Rural Health Training Center however same was vacant.
Residential quarters ofother staff members were located some 200 yards away and Primary Health Centre of the state government ataround300 meters distance. There was a large pond beyond backside barbed boundary of the center too. Morning we used to get up and enjoy the sight of farmers working in the field towards front side of the center and listen mesmerizingsound of birds chirping. In the evening one can listen largely unknown sound of field animals including hissing sound of snakes.
Things were manageableexcept for one major problem that is Electricity. The power supply to center was limited to12 hours only out of 24 hours, that too during day and night in alternate weeks. This however gave an opportunity to sleep in open during summer nights. Presence of Chowkidar during most of the nights gave a good sense of security.
As Lecturer cum in-charge of Rural Health Centre was not residing there, I was given responsibility of administration after office hours and also full administration when he and his wife, Lady Medical Officer were on leave. Water was most precious commodity for all residents over there as same was required to survive at the center for everybody, for students as well as all the staff members. This also made the Pump Operator of the center to be the most important and powerful person as how pump was operated, what faults could occur and be rectified, Pipeline connections, location of gate valves to supply in different water tanks and areas in campus were only known to him.
This power led him to go for administrative manipulations as he could have cut water supply to all or any group of residents by giving one or other reason if they do not follow his instructions. This created administrative problem for me. Unity of Command is a must for effective administration and take work effectively from the staff.
Thisnecessitated me to learn the functioning of submersible pump with the help of available documents (Internet was not available back then) and also the pipeline connection.
I had to take the control of pump house fully with the help of one support staff. With water now available to everybody and pump operator out of scene, administration was fully under my control with better functioning of the center. It was great leaning experience.
Day for us used to start at 9.30 AM when we used to goto any one of the four villages to conductPublic Health OPDs. Management of a case included OPD consultation, domiciliary and community visit to understand social, environmental and other factors for community based case management. This also gave an opportunity to understand rural people and their life. We used to have very cordial relationship with Panchayat and other community members. Having a good day to day working relationship with local Primary Health Centre was also a requirement for our effective learning and practice.
Afternoons were spent on case discussions and presentation on various public health issues and selected papers from journal/s. Once a week we were travelling to our department in IMS BHU for presentations and discussions with all faculty members on a pre-allotted topic. Epidiascope projectors, where we were using cards for presentation was of great help but we were being advised to use transparencies as same was standard in conferences those days.
Further, working on thesis was a great learning opportunity on designing and implementation of Research protocol. This also gave an opportunity to have one to one working relation with community members on daily basis. As there was limited availability of office vehicle the only option was to use personal bicycle to travel to various villages where study was being conducted as thesis for grant of MD.Even after study completion, writing thesis was not an easy task. It was weeks of hard work to dictate what we want to write and typing the same with help of a typist using a typewriter.
Computers were still not available then, however same were being discussed during our weekly presentation at department for their possible application in public health in future.
My final MD exam was few days away when I got an Interview letter from Cytology Research Centre, Delhi for the regular position of Research Officer (Epidemiology). It was a good opportunity not only because it was an employment opportunity but also I was getting free ticket to my home in Delhi where I was to go in any case after exam.
Interview at CRC went well and I was sure of my selection. However, process of issuance of selection letter was taking lot of time. In the meantime, I appeared for another interview of Research Scientist at field station of Malaria Research at Haldwani. I was selected and joined immediately ending my jobless period of around two and half months (Only time in my public health carrier when I was without job).
Working at Haldwani was a great experience although for short duration. Project staff used to work for modifications of water bodies to control malaria large project area travelling in a jeep to supervise their work was definitely enjoyable at that young age.
Just after 25 days I ultimately got the appointment letter from CRC and joined there in Epidemiology Division under the Assistant Director (Epidemiology).It was a luxury during those days to have an air-conditioned office, which my boss was sharing with me. Due to this reason I got a good exposure of technical discussions which my used to have with other senior officer from different discipline who used to visit him regularly.
Within few weeks of my joining at the center I was asked by the Director of the Centre (Who was also Additional Director General of ICMR) to go to Gauripur, In Uttar Pradesh to setup an exhibition of the Centre along-with two other senior officer. However, the two officers communicated their inability to go due to various reasons. Ultimately responsibility came solely on me. It was big responsibility as I was not aware about the official procedure of a typical government office. Administration was not found to be very supportive. I was visibly stressed when an experienced colleague came to rescue. He taught me the power of a green note sheet. So I got a full note pad issued to me and started writing the note sheet for whatever I wanted to get done from administration and all others. Soon I was good at doing that.
I got the reservation in Kashi Viswanath Express in AC tow tier Delhi Lucknow and got very heavy old styled exhibition panel also booked for same route. Taking these panels and other exhibition material to Gauripur from Lucknow was not an easy task as I was expected two bargaining for everything and collect receipt for all the expenditure.
The exhibition ground at Gauripur was a muddy with only some tent enclosure where exhibition material was kept at designated space. But the Challenges started thereafter. There was no hotel in the town to stay. It was later learnt that some place of stay is being allotted at lacal sub-district office under construction.
On visiting the office, I got one cot (Khat) a bed sheet and one blanket allotted for me. During this process I could found two other officers like me from some other government department. We good friends soon. Next was the requirement of food at dinner. There was no restaurant anywhere nearby. We were hungry and food was a requirement. Then we noticed temporary huts of gypsies who were mainly doing the work of blacksmith during their stay in the town. We requested them cook some extra food for us too in exchange to some money. They agreed immediately.
Though the bad was uncomfortable but I had good sleep as I was very tired. In the morning only option available to us was open field defecation and taking bath outside using water from a hand pump. It was early winter but was a good experience.
Next was spent on setting exhibition which was good experience. What speak and how to speak when visitors are coming to our stall was planned. There were many new friends to support and discuss as all government departments were represented in the exhibition. We got lot of time to visit other stalls and enriched updated our knowledge. It was great opportunity as learning was precious during that pre-internet era.
CRC was pure research organization working in the field of Cancer Research and provided an opportunity to learn designing and implementation of research projects. I was specifically associated with Research on “Role of Male Behavior on cervical Carcinogenesis”. As researcher I was responsible for detailed epidemiological interview of the male partners of the cases and also investigation for presence of hpv lesions in male genital organ using colposcopy.
Further, I was involved in field activities of the center related to various cancer research projects. Centre was also regularly organizing pap smear screening camps as community service in the field practice area where effective IEC activities, using mike posters and other supportive material, required to conducted.
The center was facing a major issue of educating women in OPDs of Delhi hospitals which required to enroll the subjects for study. The only tool available was a flipchart booklet which has to be used by our health workers. However, there was one problem we had few workers to use those booklets. Audio-visual clip which could have been shown on existing TVs in OPD are using VCR could have been a solution but was expensive requiring around one lac rupees unfortunately fund was not available for this purpose.
I thought of one innovation at that time and got 500 rupees sanctioned for this purpose.With this one Video camera was taken on rent. Video clip using flip chart was created with audio using voice of one medical social worker. It was shown in OPDs of concerned Delhi hospitals. It was instant success. Few months after that due this success we got around one lac rupees sanctioned to develop a proper short movie for this purpose and was shown on Doodarshan too. A major problem in the project solved. It was an important learning that if one iscommitted and innovative one get the things done in public interest.
Epidemiology division was also required to regularly instruct Bio-stat division to analyses data in particular manner useful interpretation. This leaning was an important milestone for future function as Public Health Specialist and Epidemiologist.
During my working at the Center it was renamed as Institute of Cytology and Preventive Oncology (ICPO).
Thank You
It was 29th July 1985 when I formally initiatedPublic health as carrier and joined as Senior Resident and MD Student in the Department of Community Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi. It was euphoria of starting the carrier.
I was just settling in the department along with my colleague when an order of posting at Rural Health Centre, Chiraigaon was served to us. It gave us an instant feeling of discomfort. I neverhad an experience of living in the rural area and it was posting for two years.
Rural Heath Training Centre, Chiraigaon was two-story building, Ground floor dedicated for administrative academic purposes with a number of smaller rooms for residents and medical officers and other staff, one for lab.
and a lecture cum demonstration hall. The firstfloor was dedicatedfor residential purposesone wing for residents and other officers and other wing for medical interns of rural postings. At that time, Research officer of an in-house project was the only other resident of that building as interns used to prefer day visit during their postings. There was a separate building for Lecturer cum in-charge of Rural Health Training Center however same was vacant.
Residential quarters ofother staff members were located some 200 yards away and Primary Health Centre of the state government ataround300 meters distance. There was a large pond beyond backside barbed boundary of the center too. Morning we used to get up and enjoy the sight of farmers working in the field towards front side of the center and listen mesmerizingsound of birds chirping. In the evening one can listen largely unknown sound of field animals including hissing sound of snakes.
Things were manageableexcept for one major problem that is Electricity. The power supply to center was limited to12 hours only out of 24 hours, that too during day and night in alternate weeks. This however gave an opportunity to sleep in open during summer nights. Presence of Chowkidar during most of the nights gave a good sense of security.
As Lecturer cum in-charge of Rural Health Centre was not residing there, I was given responsibility of administration after office hours and also full administration when he and his wife, Lady Medical Officer were on leave. Water was most precious commodity for all residents over there as same was required to survive at the center for everybody, for students as well as all the staff members. This also made the Pump Operator of the center to be the most important and powerful person as how pump was operated, what faults could occur and be rectified, Pipeline connections, location of gate valves to supply in different water tanks and areas in campus were only known to him.
This power led him to go for administrative manipulations as he could have cut water supply to all or any group of residents by giving one or other reason if they do not follow his instructions. This created administrative problem for me. Unity of Command is a must for effective administration and take work effectively from the staff.
Thisnecessitated me to learn the functioning of submersible pump with the help of available documents (Internet was not available back then) and also the pipeline connection.
I had to take the control of pump house fully with the help of one support staff. With water now available to everybody and pump operator out of scene, administration was fully under my control with better functioning of the center. It was great leaning experience.
Day for us used to start at 9.30 AM when we used to goto any one of the four villages to conductPublic Health OPDs. Management of a case included OPD consultation, domiciliary and community visit to understand social, environmental and other factors for community based case management. This also gave an opportunity to understand rural people and their life. We used to have very cordial relationship with Panchayat and other community members. Having a good day to day working relationship with local Primary Health Centre was also a requirement for our effective learning and practice.
Afternoons were spent on case discussions and presentation on various public health issues and selected papers from journal/s. Once a week we were travelling to our department in IMS BHU for presentations and discussions with all faculty members on a pre-allotted topic. Epidiascope projectors, where we were using cards for presentation was of great help but we were being advised to use transparencies as same was standard in conferences those days.
Further, working on thesis was a great learning opportunity on designing and implementation of Research protocol. This also gave an opportunity to have one to one working relation with community members on daily basis. As there was limited availability of office vehicle the only option was to use personal bicycle to travel to various villages where study was being conducted as thesis for grant of MD.Even after study completion, writing thesis was not an easy task. It was weeks of hard work to dictate what we want to write and typing the same with help of a typist using a typewriter.
Computers were still not available then, however same were being discussed during our weekly presentation at department for their possible application in public health in future.
My final MD exam was few days away when I got an Interview letter from Cytology Research Centre, Delhi for the regular position of Research Officer (Epidemiology). It was a good opportunity not only because it was an employment opportunity but also I was getting free ticket to my home in Delhi where I was to go in any case after exam.
Interview at CRC went well and I was sure of my selection. However, process of issuance of selection letter was taking lot of time. In the meantime, I appeared for another interview of Research Scientist at field station of Malaria Research at Haldwani. I was selected and joined immediately ending my jobless period of around two and half months (Only time in my public health carrier when I was without job).
Working at Haldwani was a great experience although for short duration. Project staff used to work for modifications of water bodies to control malaria large project area travelling in a jeep to supervise their work was definitely enjoyable at that young age.
Just after 25 days I ultimately got the appointment letter from CRC and joined there in Epidemiology Division under the Assistant Director (Epidemiology).It was a luxury during those days to have an air-conditioned office, which my boss was sharing with me. Due to this reason I got a good exposure of technical discussions which my used to have with other senior officer from different discipline who used to visit him regularly.
Within few weeks of my joining at the center I was asked by the Director of the Centre (Who was also Additional Director General of ICMR) to go to Gauripur, In Uttar Pradesh to setup an exhibition of the Centre along-with two other senior officer. However, the two officers communicated their inability to go due to various reasons. Ultimately responsibility came solely on me. It was big responsibility as I was not aware about the official procedure of a typical government office. Administration was not found to be very supportive. I was visibly stressed when an experienced colleague came to rescue. He taught me the power of a green note sheet. So I got a full note pad issued to me and started writing the note sheet for whatever I wanted to get done from administration and all others. Soon I was good at doing that.
I got the reservation in Kashi Viswanath Express in AC tow tier Delhi Lucknow and got very heavy old styled exhibition panel also booked for same route. Taking these panels and other exhibition material to Gauripur from Lucknow was not an easy task as I was expected two bargaining for everything and collect receipt for all the expenditure.
The exhibition ground at Gauripur was a muddy with only some tent enclosure where exhibition material was kept at designated space. But the Challenges started thereafter. There was no hotel in the town to stay. It was later learnt that some place of stay is being allotted at lacal sub-district office under construction.
On visiting the office, I got one cot (Khat) a bed sheet and one blanket allotted for me. During this process I could found two other officers like me from some other government department. We good friends soon. Next was the requirement of food at dinner. There was no restaurant anywhere nearby. We were hungry and food was a requirement. Then we noticed temporary huts of gypsies who were mainly doing the work of blacksmith during their stay in the town. We requested them cook some extra food for us too in exchange to some money. They agreed immediately.
Though the bad was uncomfortable but I had good sleep as I was very tired. In the morning only option available to us was open field defecation and taking bath outside using water from a hand pump. It was early winter but was a good experience.
Next was spent on setting exhibition which was good experience. What speak and how to speak when visitors are coming to our stall was planned. There were many new friends to support and discuss as all government departments were represented in the exhibition. We got lot of time to visit other stalls and enriched updated our knowledge. It was great opportunity as learning was precious during that pre-internet era.
CRC was pure research organization working in the field of Cancer Research and provided an opportunity to learn designing and implementation of research projects. I was specifically associated with Research on “Role of Male Behavior on cervical Carcinogenesis”. As researcher I was responsible for detailed epidemiological interview of the male partners of the cases and also investigation for presence of hpv lesions in male genital organ using colposcopy.
Further, I was involved in field activities of the center related to various cancer research projects. Centre was also regularly organizing pap smear screening camps as community service in the field practice area where effective IEC activities, using mike posters and other supportive material, required to conducted.
The center was facing a major issue of educating women in OPDs of Delhi hospitals which required to enroll the subjects for study. The only tool available was a flipchart booklet which has to be used by our health workers. However, there was one problem we had few workers to use those booklets. Audio-visual clip which could have been shown on existing TVs in OPD are using VCR could have been a solution but was expensive requiring around one lac rupees unfortunately fund was not available for this purpose.
I thought of one innovation at that time and got 500 rupees sanctioned for this purpose.With this one Video camera was taken on rent. Video clip using flip chart was created with audio using voice of one medical social worker. It was shown in OPDs of concerned Delhi hospitals. It was instant success. Few months after that due this success we got around one lac rupees sanctioned to develop a proper short movie for this purpose and was shown on Doodarshan too. A major problem in the project solved. It was an important learning that if one iscommitted and innovative one get the things done in public interest.
Epidemiology division was also required to regularly instruct Bio-stat division to analyses data in particular manner useful interpretation. This leaning was an important milestone for future function as Public Health Specialist and Epidemiologist.
During my working at the Center it was renamed as Institute of Cytology and Preventive Oncology (ICPO).
Thank You
