Mobile Van Inauguration
Yesterday marked a wonderful event that Asha had planned for a few months. We inaugurated our mobile health van at three slum communities that are adjacent to each other, and where the residents are living in unimaginable impoverished conditions.
This was a joint inauguration done virtually on Zoom by Friends of Asha Australia and Friends of Asha USA, both of whom have together raised the resources for the purchase of the van and its fit out. It looks beautiful, and the Asha team will be able to provide free health services to about 5000 residents who have no access to any kind of health care in the area.
Australia was represented by Professor Jim McCluskey and the US was represented by Louanne Hempton, Professor David Hempton and Mandy Hildenbrand. The local MLA also came as did the head of the local police station. Our international guests cut the ribbon virtually on Zoom while the MLA and Dr Kiran cut it physically on their behalf.
Through the Zoom feed, our friends overseas were able to witness the harsh realities of these communities firsthand. Dr Kiran extends heartfelt gratitude to our friends in Australia and the USA — your kindness and generosity are bringing dignity and hope to thousands.
Following the ceremony, Dr Kiran visited the three slum communities. What she witnessed was heart-wrenching.There was filth everywhere, the crude drains that were made by the residents were choked with garbage, and the main road was just mud, with dirty water collections everywhere.
The toilets inside the mobile toilet vans were filthy, and the residents were squatting out in the open. There was dust, flies and smoke everywhere because not a single family had gas for cooking. They were all using wood and cooking on open fires everywhere.
The most shocking sight was how residents collected water. With low pressure in the municipal pipes, residents had buried the pipelines two feet deep into the open drains, mixing sewage with the water they used daily — for drinking, cooking, and washing.
This mobile van is a crucial first step toward restoring health and dignity. There is a long journey ahead, but this moment stands as a powerful testament to what compassion and collaboration can achieve.
