As-Salaam Alaaikum. . .

Greetings from Chikar. Communication has proven to be challenging due to many variables, all of which must synchronize. The other day we saw a boy enthusiastically using a major phone line as a jump rope. – a new variable we hadn’t pondered. Inshallah we will get this blog posted today.

This is an exciting time to be in Kashmir as the acute phase of the zelzelli (earthquake) is past and now the transition to the health maintenance phases are in process. Already the health care in the region supported by CDRS is better than it was pre-earthquake and will continue to improve as new programs are initiated.

We have been doing home visits (Judy calls them house calls) escorted by local Lady Health Workers and an interpreter (RN Aneela or Zubair, the resources procurement officer and gentleman extraordinaire) Word gets out that the gori are in the neighborhood and soon the doorway and verandah are filled with women and children waiting patiently for their turn. Some have complicated problems requiring specialist care and others just want to meet the local attraction. It seems that over 90% of women of reproductive age are severely iron deficient. We acquired a hemoglobinometer yesterday from the District Health Officer and are anxious to get some numbers.

Almost everyone, including little children, has a goiter due to iodine deficiency. Iodine is an essential micronutrient required for normal growth and mental and physical development. The corollary is that a lack of iodine increases fetal deformity, growth retardation, poor school functioning, etc, etc. We are trying to determine why iodine is not routinely supplied in the salt. There has been a micronutrient initiative which was to be implemented around Jan 1, 2006, but the earthquake of Oct. 05 preempted this program. As we talked with different administrators in various agencies, the plot thickened and challenges we could not have imagined came to the fore. We were so naïve in thinking that getting ALL the people in this region iodized salt would be a simple and non-controversial process.

On 6 April we went to a nearby (25 km, 2 hours by vehicle) to assess the reconstruction efforts post earthquake. Constant landslides make travel slow and uncertain. The devastation (we seem to use this apt word a lot) is still mind boggling. In these Himalayan foothills, entire hillsides lie at the bottom of deep gorges, the slides having swept away buildings and everything else in their path. We saw a baker making chapattis under a mostly crushed closet sized storefront. The tons and tons of rubble have yet to be removed from his roof.

Zubair took us on a walk to a 1.5 km long lake, newly formed when a whole part (think Mt Battie or Mt Baldy) of a mountain fell into the valley. Its serenity belies the fact that approximately 1,460 people are buried under it.

We continue to be impressed with the dedication and commitment of the CDRS staff. They treat each other and us as family. Although it is the only NGO to have been formed after the earthquake, it is highly regarded for its fiduciary efficiency, logistical competence, and health care delivery.

3 Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson gives a great description of this area. We recommend it highly. We’ll sign off with hopes of getting this out.

Kuda Hafiz
Helen and Judy