One day, while doing field work in one of the poorer areas of Rampir Ne Tekro, we met Manjulaben and her family. She lives with her husband and two young daughters, and they earn a living by rake picking, picking up and sorting garbage. When we met her, Manjulaben hardly had enough clothes to cover her body, and there were a lot of flies hovering over the many foul-smelling, pus-filled sores located on her body. She had been taking medicine from the local medical store. She was sent to Civil Hospital and received treatment for eight days. During her stay in the hospital, her daughters had to be left with the neighbors because her husband had to work in order to be able to afford food to eat. Once Manjulaben returned from the hospital, she was required to take medicine and change the dressing everyday; however, the infection returned as the medicine was expensive and she could not afford to change the dressing daily.
She once again became very ill and was visited by a Manav Sadhna health worker. She was sent to the Manav Sadhna health center, and she was diagnosed with a very bad infection. The cost of one tablet and one injection was 108 rupees, and it was required that she take three tablets and two injections daily. Her one-and-a-half year old daughter was also diagnosed as anemic and malnourished as she had not been breast fed by her mother. Poonambhai, the doctor who oversees the health center, recognized that this family was very poor and yet very honest. He decided to give the dressing and medication to both mother and daughter for free. Since then, although it has not be cured, Manjulaben's infection has significantly reduced, and her treatment is ongoing. Her young daughter has been shown to a pediatrician, and follow-up is currently taking place. The baby is now put in daycare at the Manav Sadhna community center everyday.
