free healthcare

Driving around parts of Delhi gives one of the clearest impressions that India is a big booming economy. The expanded metro, hordes of cars in the road, busy shops and big houses all point to rising affluence. From one of the main roads, a quick turn into Sanjay Colony gives a view of very different world. There is no road to speak of, make-shift structures abound and a proper sanitation system is obviously absent.

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Our first health centre was at Baiima, it is one of 35 where we have trained staff and community volunteers and completely refurbished and re-equipped the health centre. The chief proudly told me that ‘our future leaders are being born here’.

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I was last here in April 2010 when free healthcare for under 5′s was just about to be introduced. I’m here with one of our largest and longest standing donors to see the difference their work has made under the free healthcare regime.

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Community health workers make a huge difference in reducing child deaths, says Kumari. “On one of my visits a mother told me her child was seriously ill. I told her, you’ve been going to the traditional doctor and spending money, so at least come to the clinic for free treatment.”

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110 representatives (including Save the Children) from mainly West African countries are meeting in Dakar this week to share their thoughts and experiences on how to make healthcare free for all, or at least for mothers and children under five.

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Really difficult day today. We visited one of the slums of Mumbai, Shivaji Nagar. It is built on a rubbish tip. And as the rubbish settles, so people build homes on it, very higgledy piggly with no planning, and so it grows, and the waste of Mumbai is dumped further out.

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For those who have lived through Africa’s gem-fuelled conflicts – in Angola, DRC and Sierra Leone – the reality of resource plunder is no laughing matter.

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Southern Sudan was my home for 4 years from 2005 to 2008. Since returning to the UK in January 2009, I hadn’t returned to the land which I had grown to love. So, it was with excitement and slight apprehension that I flew back into Juba International Airport to visit Save the Children’s health programme.

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We went to a health centre today. It was FABULOUS. They have a well-stocked pharmacy, a clean birthing room with birthing table, weighing scales and curtains across the window for privacy. Next door to the birthing room was the labour room with beds, blankets and mosquito nets. Next door to that is the mother and baby room where two new mothers were spending time getting to know their brand-new person. All of the rooms were clean and light — somewhere they could feel at home.

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Nigeria is endowed with enough resources to provide free health services. What is lacking is the commitment to channel these available resources for the purpose of saving the lives of pregnant women, newborn and children under 5years.

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