Glossary & FAQ
Adivasi = aboriginal/indigenous people
Sangam = village committee
Cot = bed
Lakh = 100,000: written in India 1,00,000. 1 lakh rupees is about £1250 at 2007 rates
(FAQ) Frequently asked questions:
1. What immunization/ drug prophylaxis should I take?
There is no malaria in Gudalur. You do not need to take malaria prophylaxis unless you are planning to travel to other places. Mosquito repellents that are plugged in to keep mosquitoes out of the room are provided in the apartment.
There is no rabies or Jap B encephalitis- you do not need to take immunization unless you want to be extra careful. Most medicines are available locally. You don’t need to carry them.
2. Is HIV prophylaxis available?
ASHWINI do not stock ART drugs. The chances of exposure are remote as HIV incidence in the tribal population is very low and you will not be involved in invasive procedures. If your school is particular about this, please carry the drugs.
The hospital does have goggles and aprons. Please bring a box or two of gloves.
3. Can I get Internet/ phone access?
The hospital has internet access and you can use it after office hours. You can buy telephone cards in town for international calls.
4. Is there a dress code?
You can dress informally. Please do not wear short pants, sleeveless / tight tops, short skirts, tops with low cut necks or low waist pants. It is culturally inappropriate.
It is simpler to wear sandals to work as you may have to take them off frequently.
It is possible to wash clothes- there is a semi automatic washing machine. There is also a laundry in town. Clothes are cheap - you can consider buying clothes locally. (Don’t over pack!)
5. Where should I fly to and how will pickup be organized?
The nearest airport is Calicut (also known as Kozhikode), which is about 130 kms from Gudalur – 3 hours journey time. There are many flights via the Gulf from London/Manchester. There are also internal flights to Calicut from major international airports e.g. Mumbai. Your pick up from here is included in the fees.
The driver will wait outside the airport building with a sign that says “ASHWINI”.
The other airports that are relatively close are:
Kochi (240 kms away)- 6-7 hours journey time.
Bangalore (230 kms away)- 5- 6 hours journey time.
You can be picked up from the two latter destinations for an extra cost of about Rs 2- 3000
If you are traveling by train, we can pick you up from Mysore or Nilambur in Kerala. Please send us travel plans in advance.
6. Where can I change cash?
You cannot change foreign currency in Gudalur. So do this at the airport before coming out of the building. Mysore and Ooty have facilities for changing- you may want to visit these places on the weekend.
7. What can I bring for the Gudalur Adivasi Hospital?
The following will be useful (please do not buy any of these but bring them if they have been donated to you)
1. Otoscopes
2. Opthalmoscopes
3. Stethoscopes
4. Blood pressure apparatus
5. Pulse-oximeter
6. Vacuum apparatus for delivery
7. Doppler for arterial pulse
8. Educational CDs
9. Surgical instruments
10. Sutures
11. Torches
12. Gloves
8. Can I do a project?
You can do projects using data available at the hospital. If you let us know your subject of interest ahead of time, we can help you to plan. You should bring a USB stick with you.
9. Is there anything else I should do before coming over?
Visit our websites www.ashwini.org and www.adivasi.net to get an idea of the work. Learning some Tamil words before coming would be useful, though not essential.
10. Who should I contact in case of a problem/ directions when in India?
Durga coordinates the program. You can call her mobile 09442954912.
Or you can call the hospital at 04262-261645 and ask to talk to Dr Nandakumar, Dr Shyla or one of the other doctors during working hours.