Making Hospitals Kid Friendly

Ira was operated for Adenoids 3 days back at Cumbala Hill Hospital. Here she is seen sitting scared in the waiting area outside the operation theatre. I have never been inside an operation theatre ever. So I was clueless how to deal with her fear. She held Maya's hand to feel better.

Suddenly Patch Adams and Munnabhai MBBS made sense to me.

Why are all hospitals are designed to be patient unfriendly? Infact they are absolutely child unfriendly. There is nothing in there that can cheer up a kid and reassure him/her about the surroundings. The doctors are dressed in green kurtas and trousers with masks on their faces and caps on their heads. They look like zombies moving around.

Worst was when the doctors told Ira that she has to accompany them alone into the operation theatre. Ira's face turned pale and white. I was disgusted with this lackadaisical approach. Actually the hospital staff and doctors were extremely nice to us but I am not sure if they had any idea about the impact their approach is having on a small kid. To make matters worse, Ira was not given even a drop of water for over 11 hours.

Imagine a hospital where the walls are filled with cartoons, there are balloons flying all over, the doctors are dressed like mickey mouses (or something similar) and the kid is playfully taken on to a kid friendly hospital bed? I am sure it can make life a whole lot easier for the kids and their parents.

Kandeel

We met him near Citylight market at Mahim. Everytime we enquired about the "Kandeel" prices in marathi, he shot back in English.

Me: Arre Kiti la ha kandeel? (How much for this "Kandeel"?)
He: Sir, this is 275 rupees
Me: Ani ha? (What about this one?)
He: Sir this is 325 rupees only, which one you want?
Me: Mala neet bhav sang? (Give me the best rate?)
He: Sir, here it is fixed rate.
Me: Kuthchya Shalet Jatos? Kitvit aahes? (What school do you go to? What class?)
He: I go to SIES school and I study in 8th standard. Sir, which one you want?
Me: Tujha photo kadto (I will click you photo)
He: Ok sir...

He reminded me of my own childhood. One of my friend's father used to make Kandeels during diwali and sell them on roadside near Dombivali station. I used to accompany them and stand at the stall every evening. Most buyers felt odd negotiating because of my middle class looks and appearance. I used to end up selling many kandeels everyday.

And all this was done for one Thumps Up or a glass of Lassi that was offered to us by my friend's dad for all the hard work put in!!

Vote

Voted. Nobody seems to be voting today in Mumbai. I went in, voted and came out in less than 3 minutes!! The only queues were that of the slum dwellers - who had come in large numbers. If slum dwellers vote, the politicians will ensure that more and more slums are legalized to protect their vote banks. So ultimately, Mumbai will get what its voters want and not what its citizens wish!!!