Living up to the Hippocratic oath by leveraging preventive medicine
Dr. Frederick Shaw believes that health is the base of development. Successful intervention in urban slums like Janta Colony in Chandigarh has brought down the Infant Mortality Rate to 20 from 100 in a span of seven years, writes Munish Dhiman
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8th Dec 2012
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Dr. Frederick Shaw | Photo: T.S. Bedi
t the end of A Street Car Named Desire, a devastated Blanche looks up to her doctor, who a while ago suspended the cold clinicality in the manner of her prescription, and says "I've always believed in the kindness of a stranger". Dr W Frederick Shaw is definitely such a stranger; a foreign national who felt it incumbent upon himself to lend out a helping hand to those who need it the most.
Be it clearing water holes, clogged pipes, or cleaning garbage in the vicinity, nothing is below dignity for Dr Shaw who runs DIR (Developing Indigenous Resources), an NGO based out of Chandigarh, founded in 2004. He has contributed towards providing and bettering resources and facilities especially for those who reside in slums. He believes that development of a nation depends on the health of its people; and good health comes from resources, which cannot be imported, but needs to be discovered from within the locale.
Dr Shaw is a polymath; he has pursued his education from Ireland, and the USA, majoring in business education, political philosophy, English literature and public health. He held bureaucratic positions but something never seemed to be in place for him. He started working for people's development, which finally accorded him peace of mind. For a better understanding and enhancing knowledge, he went to college again at the age of 45 and bagged a PhD in public health, and adopted a mission of working towards improving public health.
Dr. Shaw says, "Graduates from schools of public health set out to prevent illness occurrence. Preventive medicine is a different approach to illness which is normally the province of schools of public health. Most of the medical schools teach the curative methods of treatment which I believe are necessary for bigger illnesses. But airborne and contagious diseases which are prevalent in the community can be prevented using the preventive medicines."
After spending more than a decade in India he says, "Before establishing dir I had a perception that employment is the best remedy for all the problems, but I realized that health is the base of development. If a person is healthy he can earn his bread but if unhealthy he can never be a part of the economic development of the country." Dr Shaw has worked extensively for the welfare of the most neglected areas of developing countries and has been helping the economically weaker sections to build up resources so that they are empowered to solve their own problems and generate income.
Throughout his career his focus has been upon inventing, devising and discovering solutions to health problems of underprivileged communities who reside in locations such as typically isolated rural areas or urban slum ghettos. His priority are people who live in poverty under severe conditions, without basic amenities, grappling with death and disease rates which are not confined to any given country. DIR is an organization beyond political or religious affiliations and that works for the people.
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ealth in developing and developed countries is distinguished by the IMR (Infant Mortality Rate). This rate is based on the deaths of infants who die before their first birthday for every 1000 live births. Dr Shaw says, "As per official records it is said to be less than 50 in India. But I was surprised to see that the count for IMR in Janta Colony (near Chandigarh) only, was 100 when I started working for this slum seven years back. With the help of people from the area and with their dedication and keenness to learn we were able to bring this figure to 20 (last year's count) which is an accomplishment in itself"
The idea behind DIR was the resuciation of underprivileged urban communities, slums and rural areas where public health initiatives were almost nonexistent. Unemployment, financial crisis, lack of influence and education are some of the factors that account for these problems. Lack of opportunities impedes them from reaching and ensuring some form of socio-economic escalation. DIR finds this as the most challenging hurdle and works towards tailoring new solutions every day.
Dr. Shaw educates people in preventive methods against various common diseases which enable them live a healthy life. People at the centre are taught skills so that they can earn and become self dependent. He says, "I am here with a mission and that mission is to see people living a healthy life and adding to the financial growth of the country. I could have been in some other profession, doing some neat and clean work but I chose this, as I wanted to change the living standard of the poor".
A dedicated team of health promoters work with Dr Shaw at DIR, voluntarily. These health promoters, aged 19-45, are residents of slums that house around 17000 people. These promoters first attend classes at the centre and further educate residents in around 200-220 houses about how to take care of their health and how to obtain a balanced diet with limited funds. Vocational training like sewing, tailoring and others are offered to produce self sufficient individuals. DIR also provides loan to women if they want to start their own business, funded by the Rotary International. For improving education standards, a pre-primary school is run where slums children are admitted at a meagre fee of Rs 150 which covers their books and stationary as well. Students are provided the best possible coaching, and surprisingly, have performed exceptionally, availing admissions in top convent schools in Chandigarh. Dr Shaw says, "For us it is possible to come up with a High School in the area but I want the kids of these slum to step out of it and see the cleaner world that can engross in them an urge to live a better life which is outside this area."
Shockingly, a financial aid of Rs 10000 was given to the organization once but no funds were given to it afterwards. The NGO runs on funds raised by organizing charity shows and concerts. Women workers are engaged in making products like ipad covers, water bottle holders, purses, paper bags etc which are sold and the proceeds contribute towards the medical programme. Salaries of these women and all the health workers are also generated from these funds.
The NGO has received no sustained financial aid, or assistance from the government. But that is hardly any deterrent for Dr Shaw, who believes in the sheer power of human endeavour and will, which can override any distress.
http://www.sunday-guardian.com/artbeat/living-up-to-the-hippocratic-oath-by-leveraging-preventive-medicine
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