I never imagined healthcare infrastructure could be this beneficial
I’m Dr. Saumya, 44 years old, and currently serving as the Medical Officer at the Primary Health Centre in Siddapura. When I was first posted here eight years ago, I was taken aback. The PHC was in a state I couldn’t have imagined—particularly the sanitation facilities. The condition of the toilets wasn’t just poor; it was inhumane. For patients, especially the elderly, pregnant women, or those in pain, even basic relief became a struggle.
As a doctor, you often focus on clinical treatment, but I quickly learned that infrastructure—or the lack of it—can directly affect a patient’s ability to access timely care. The toilets were constantly clogged, making the whole environment unhygienic and distressing. My only option was to repeatedly report the issue to the authorities. Some cleaning was arranged with help from a local NGO, but the problems persisted. It never felt like a permanent fix.
What frustrated me even more was the delay this caused in patient care. I remember so many cases where we’d ask for a urine sample, and the patient would have to go all the way back home just to relieve themselves—some never returned. It caused delays in diagnosis and treatment, especially for pregnant women who require timely follow-ups.
That’s when WaterAid came into the picture. They approached us with a solution—improved sanitation infrastructure for the PHC. Honestly, it felt like a lifeline. The PHC covers a population of around 5,300 people, and this intervention couldn’t have come at a better time. We even contributed ₹22,000 from our side to make it happen—it was that important.
Now, with access to a clean and functional toilet facility, we’ve seen a visible shift in how services are accessed and delivered.
Gangadhar, our 35-year-old lab technician, shares the same sentiment. He tells me how earlier, when patients were referred for urine tests, they’d often disappear for days after taking the sample bottles home. “Now,” he says, “they give the sample on the spot, and we can start the process right away.” It’s especially a relief for pregnant women in their third trimester. They no longer suffer through the discomfort of holding urine just to make it through the appointment.
This change has been more than just a structural improvement—it’s transformed how we deliver care. What once seemed like an insurmountable challenge is now a story of restored dignity and health access, all because of a toilet that works.
