Life and death in CalcuttaLike tight rope walkers', life precariously hangs in the balance for thepeople who live in the slums of Kolkata. Health care to these people isalmost non-existent but there is one Doctor who has dedicated his lifeto helping them to survive and stay healthy.

A Photo story by Donna Todd/LightMediation

2364-03: Dr. Jack Preger MBE, a British Medical Doctor, began providing medical care to the destitute on the streets of Calcutta over 25 years ago. This was Calcutta rescues beginning. Since then he has workedtirelessly to build it into the thriving NGO it is today. He is currently leading efforts to diagnose and treat Multiple Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB) and drug resistant HIV/AIDS, both emerging public health

problems.

Life and death in Kolkata / 2364-01: A Scene at sunset of the district know as the Canal slums, wheremany of the people are forced to live in squaller with no fresh water, no toilets in Kolkatta.

Life and death in Kolkata / 2364-02: This picture shows people living in their slum area community andhow one woman seems to be preparing the evening meal. The slum area is know as the Canal district

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-03: Dr. Jack Preger MBE, a British Medical Doctor, began providingmedical care to the destitute on the streets of Calcutta over 25 years ago. This was Calcutta rescues

Life and death in KOLKATA / 2364-04: This service is provided for free and Calcutta Rescues takes ateam of doctors and out reach staff, drives this ambulance to the outskirts of kolkatta to this squat area,

2364-02: This picture shows people living in their slum area community and how one woman seems to be preparing the evening meal. The slum area is know as the Canal district and some of the people have beensettled here for a round 30 years. However recently the government has been forcibly evicting them more frequently as it has plans for building in the area.

Life and death in Kolkata / 2364-05: Patients wait in the back of Calcutta rescues out reach medical clinic,the patients are being immunized given worming paste, vitamins and their general health is checked.

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-06: patients wait to see the doctor in the back of an ambulance, whichcomes to treat them with free medical services twice per week.

Life and death in Kolkata / 2364-07:The staff of Calcutta rescue explain some medical treatment to amother regarding her child. In the back of the ambulance. This service is provided for free and Calcutta

Life and death in Kolkata / 2364-08: Debu Chakraborbiy is an out reach medical assistant with CalcuttaRescue and has been working with them for around ten years, he is pictured here giving 2-year-old Oberdi

2364-07:The staff of Calcutta rescue explain some medical treatment to a mother regarding her child. In the back of the ambulance. This service is provided for free and Calcutta Rescues takes a team of doctors and outreach staff, to Nonadanga drives the ambulance right into the squat area where 300 people live with no basic needs or education, twice a week. Some of the people are refugees from Bangladesh.

Life and death in KOLKATA / 2364-09: A young lady with several children reads the instructions for hermedication, demonstrated in pictures as she is illiterate. She has been given the medicine after seeing to

Life and death in Kolkata / 2364-10: Out reach worker and Calcutta rescue staff member DebuChakraborbiy , is giving a talk to Mothers at Nontanga an area on the eastern outskirts of Kolkata. There

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-11: 4-year-old Chongittash lives in squalor at an area on the Eastern outskirts of kolkatta called NonadangaII. / India /

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-12: A young boy holds his ill brother, the little boy has the beginnings ofmalnutrican and the elder boy tries to feed him some small piece of food. They live in the squat area of

2364-15: A young woman pump clean water from one of the two pumps in the in the squat area of Nanadonga, it is around 40 kms, on the eastern fringes, of kolkata and there are no toilets and 300 refugees.

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-13: A young girl around 1 years with her malnourished baby. Parents tryand marry off their daughters as quickly as possible as they burden of feeding them is too great on the

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-14: A malnourished baby whose mother is only 15 years old. Parents tryand marry off their daughters as quickly as possible as they burden of feeding them is too great on the

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-15: A young woman pump clean water from one of the two pumps in thein the squat area of Nanadonga, it is around 40 kms, on the eastern fringes, of kolkata and there are no

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-16: A woman from one of the slum area of Kolkata picks through rubbishas a means to finding small pieces of plastic that she can sell to be recycled. A meager income that keeps

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-17: Sheik Maran who is 90 years old a sufferer of the terrible illness; hehas had the leprosy for thirty years. All his family is dead and he lives alone on the street, his only hope

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-18: Sheik Maran who is 90 years old a sufferer of the terrible illness; hehas had the leprosy for thirty years. All his family is dead and he lives alone on the street, his only hope

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-19: A young mother suffers from leprosy, she is being consulted by thedoctor at the Chitpur Leprosy clinic, the clinic is a makeshift affair, but the treatment is not. Only the most

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-20: A young mother sufferer of leprosy shows the signs of the diseasethrough loss of her fingers. Her baby holds her hand at the Chitpuri leprosy clinic on the outskirts of

2364-11: 4-year-old Chongittash lives in squalor at an area on the Eastern out skirts of kolkatta called NonadangaII.

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-21: A young mother sufferer of leprosy shows the signs of the diseasethrough loss of her fingers. Calcutta rescue hold a free leprosy clinic and she attend every two weeks to

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-22: Calcutta Rescue, every two weeks most patients visit their Leprosyclinic to have his wounds dressed. The clinic is a makeshift affair, but the treatment is not. Only the most

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-23: Calcutta Rescue, hold Leprosy clinic 3 times per week, wounds arecleaned and dressed. The clinic is a makeshift affair, but the treatment is not. Only the most effective

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-24: Sheik Mohammad 70 years at the chitpur Leprosy clinic although helost his leg to the disease the doctors at Calcutta Rescue had a new artificial leg made for him and he

2364-17: Sheik Maran who is 90 years old a sufferer of the terrible illness; he has had the leprosy for thirty years. All his family is dead and he lives alone on the street, his only hope for survival is to put out his hand andpray to god that someone gives him enough money to eat. He says, 'the worst thing about suffering from leprosy is that it is getting more and more difficult to walk about', and that now, not even his hands work properly.

He says that the only help he gets from anyone in the world is the Calcutta Rescue, every two weeks he visits their Leprosy clinic to have his wounds dressed.

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-25: Sheik Mohammad 70 years shown here during a doctor consultation,at the chitpur Leprosy clinic although he lost his leg to the disease the doctors at Calcutta Rescue had a

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-26: Sheik Mohammad 70 years at the chitpur Leprosy clinic although helost his leg to the disease the doctors at Calcutta Rescue had a new artificial leg made for him and he

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-27: Calcutta Rescue, every two weeks he visits their Leprosy clinic tohave his wounds dressed. The clinic is a makeshift affair, but the treatment is not. Only the most effective

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-28: Calcutta Rescue, every two weeks he visits their Leprosy clinic tohave his wounds dressed. The clinic is a makeshift affair, but the treatment is not. Only the most effective

2364-19: A young mother suffers from leprosy, she is being consulted by the doctor at the Chitpur Leprosy clinic, the clinic is a makeshift affair, but the treatment is not. Only the most effective anti-leprosy drugs aredispensed while stumps and sores are expertly cleaned and bandaged.

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-29: UMAESH MURTI 28 is employed by Calcutta rescue to make specialshoes for the lepers who loose the feeling in their feet and so are vulnerable to further injuries. The shoes

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-30: A young girl at the Chitpuri Leprosy clinic has her wounds cleanedand dressed with the constant care from the doctors she should be 100 percent cured. / India /

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-31: SHANTY DEVI, during a consultation with the doctor at the ChitpurLeprosy clinic, the clinic is a makeshift affair, but the treatment is not. Only the most effective anti-leprosy

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-32: A woman who seems in pain and deep in thought as she sits in thewaiting room of the Calcutta Rescue, Leprosy clinic, which is held 3 times per week. Her wounds will be

2364-10: Out reach worker and Calcutta rescue staff member Debu Chakraborbiy , is giving a talk to Mothers at Nontanga an area on the eastern outskirts of Kolkata. There are around 300 people living in squalor inthese slums, only 2 water pumps and no toilets. Debu is being educating them regarding hygiene, worms, parasite, sanitization and general cleanliness issues.

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-33: The waiting room of the free medical clinic located within thecompound of the Loreto Day School, this daily clinic provides treatment for a range of ailments including

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-34: A patient leaves the waiting room of the free medical clinic locatedwithin the compound of the Loreto Day School, this daily clinic provides treatment for a range of ailments

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-35: A man who sufferes from Leprosy and has lost his legs, walks abouton his stomps with specially designed shoes provided for free by the Calcutta rescue. Seen here at the

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-36: A man who sufferes from Leprosy and has lost his legs, walks abouton his stomps with specially designed shoes provided for free by the Calcutta rescue. Seen here at the

2364-42: Street Children attending school at Tala Park, enjoy a nutrious meal provided by Calcutta rescue.

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-37: An elderly man feels discomfort in his eye whilst attending the dailyfree medical clinic located within the compound of the Loreto Day School, this daily clinic provides

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-38: An elderly man feels discomfort in his eye, which shows sign ofcattarach, whilst attending the daily free medical clinic located within the compound of the Loreto Day

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-39: An elderly man sho suffers from cataracts waits in the waiting roomof Sealda clinic which is situated in Lorreto School. His grand child leans on him as he is probably tired

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-40: A baby cries as she has just been given an important needle forimmunization, by nurses at Calcutta rescue. / India /

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-41: A brave child looks worried as she has just been given an importantneedle for immunization, by nurses at Calcutta rescue. / India /

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-42: Street Children attending school at Tala Park, enjoy a nutrious mealprovided by Calcutta rescue. / India /

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-43: Street Child attending school at Tala Park, enjoy a nutrious mealprovided by Calcutta rescue. / India /

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-44: A mother struggles with her child who suffers from down syndrome,she is out the from of the clinic in Tala park and will be transported to the Sealda clinic in the Calcutta

2364-41: A brave child looks worried as she has just been given an important needle for immunization, by nurses at Calcutta rescue.

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-45: In a loaned office given by the Bengal government in Panchayat fareast in village around 4 hours drive from Kolkata. Calcutta Rescue holds a clinic called Kaparpuri, today

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-46: In a loaned office given by the Bengal government in Panchayat fareast in village around 4 hours drive from Kolkata . Calcutta Rescue holds a clinic called Kaparpuri, today

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-47: In a loaned office given by the Bengal government in Panchayat fareast in village around 4 hours drive from Kolkata. Calcutta Rescue holds a clinic called Kaparpuri, today

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-48: At the clinic for tuberculosis suffers,'Kaparpuri',8-year-old Devi Bibihas been diagnosed with Tuberculosis after a sputin test performed by doctors from Calcutta Rescue, who

2364-44: A mother struggles with her child who suffers from down syndrome, she is out the from of the clinic in Tala park and will be transported to the Sealda clinic in the Calcutta rescue van, so as her child can receivea free immunization.

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-49: Ballav Bahaur 65 of Taldi, he is a sufferer from Tb and says he feelsso very weak, "I cannot move swiftly and I am so skinny, no meat in my skin". He said he regulary coughs

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-50: Ballav Bahaur 65 of Taldi, he is a sufferer from Tb, walks to theCalcutta Rescue sub clinic called Patikhali. People come from miles around as there is close to a train

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-51: Ballav Bahaur 65 of Taldi, receiving medication from a doctor fromCalcutta Rescue village sub clinic called Patikhali, he is a sufferer from Tb and says he feels so very

Life and death in Calcutta / 2364-52: An ancient woman who probably has spent her whole life living in thisslum next the canal area of Kolkata, prepares to enter her shack, showing how house proud and aware of

Life and deathin Calcutta

Like tight rope walkers', life precariouslyhangs in the balance for the people wholive on the streets and in the slums ofKolkata. The spidery thread between lifeand death is confronted with determinationand grit everyday. Health care to thesepeople is almost non-existent but there isone Doctor who has dedicated his life tohelping them to survive and stay healthy.

Most doctors aspire to a successfulmedical career, and a nice income, not so,for this British physician. Dr Jack Pregerbegan Calcutta rescue in 1979 and he hasbeen nominated for a Nobel Peace prizefor the incredible work he has achievedgiving medical care to the downtrodden ofCalcutta's streets and slums. In 1972,when Preger had just qualified, heanswered a call over the radio for doctorsto help the people of then newlyindependent Bangladesh. In 1975, he setup a 90-bed clinic in Dhaka and two farmson the outskirts of the city. However, his work in Dhaka came to animmediate end when he discovered that aSwiss NGO was operating achild-smuggling racket and exposed it,and because of this he was deported toSingapore in 1979. Not long after hisdeportation he went to India and worked inKolkata for six months under MotherTeresa's Missionaries of Charity. MotherTeresa testified that, "I have seen thework of Dr Jack Preger in Bangladesh andwhat I saw was very good for the peopleand the children. I do hope that he will beable to give that service to the people inCalcutta also". However, Preger thought

that he would be able to do more if heoperated independently, he say's " therewas far too much prayer, far too littlemedical care". He remembers anoccasion when a guard at a shelter run byMother Teresa refused to admit two dyingfamine victims because it was past 6 p.m.An enraged Preger grabbed the crucifixhanging from the man's neck and twistedit until the man started to choke. "In thename of Christ," Preger roared, "let us in!"Terrified, the guard complied. He leftMother Teresa's Mission and started amedical clinic for the poor below theflyover connecting the Howrah Bridge,where a lot of the towns poor live.However he still works with the sisters andquite often brings patients so ill that deathis inevitable to the hospital Mother Teresaset up called, 'Kalighat, the Home for thedying and of the Pure Heart. Thosebrought to the home receive medicalattention from the sisters and are affordedthe opportunity to die with dignity,according to the rituals of their faith;Muslims are read the Quran, Hindusreceive water from the Ganges, andCatholics receive the Last Rites. "Abeautiful death," Said Mother Teresa, "isfor people who lived like animals to die likeangels-loved and wanted." Today, Calcutta Rescue is a registeredcharity but before being established as aregistered charity Jack worked undercover as Calcutta Rescue, illegally'operating his street clinic's 6 days a weekfor, for fourteen years. The authoritieseventually threw him into kolkata's Aliporeprison for operating these clinics. Heshared a filthy cell with 40 other prisoners,scores of rats, and thousands ofcockroaches. This did not discourage himone bit. When asked "How can you bear all thisindifference and hostility to your efforts todo good?" "What keeps you going, even in

the face of failure?" Preger answers, "Goddoesn't judge you by the results,""Different circumstances lead to differentresults. What matters is the struggle, thatyou try. And if you try, God will neverforget you."Today Calcutta rescue includes fourundercover clinics, three schools and twovocational centers. Plus provides manyother services to the poor in West Bengal,including free treatment in for multi-drugresistant TB and free treatment forresistant cases of HIV on second-lineanti-retroviral drugs. It employs 150 locallyhired staff. Dr Perger's story is extraordinary, likeMother Teresa, his dedication to the poorin Kolkata was the result of a ''commandout of the blue'' In the most unlikely circumstances, hewas told to ''become a doctor'' when sittingon his tractor, spreading manure on hisfarm in Wales. But unlike Mother Teresa, he has littletime for prayer, avoids churches except forweddings and funerals, calls mostreligious ceremonies ''theatre'' and insteadof flirting with the authorities, he fights withthem, a fiery quality which resulted inbeing thrown into prison.

In a bamboo pole and tarpaulin hut, atclinic set up for lepers by the Gangesriver, slum area known as Chitpur, I metSheik Maran who is 90 years old asufferer of the terrible illness, he has hadthe leprosy for thirty years. All his family isdead and he lives alone on the street, hisonly hope for survival is to put out hishand and pray to god that someone giveshim enough money to eat. He says, 'theworst thing about suffering from leprosy isthat it is getting more and more difficult towalk about', and that now, not even hishands work properly. He says that theonly help he gets from anyone in the world

is the Calcutta Rescue, every two weekshe visits their Leprosy clinic to have hiswounds dressed. The clinic is a makeshiftaffair, but the treatment is not. Only themost effective anti-leprosy drugs aredispensed while stumps and sores areexpertly cleaned and bandaged. Leprosyis one of the oldest diseases, a diseaseoften spoken about in the bible. It was notdiscovered in the modern world until 1869by a missionary named Wellesley Bailey. When Bailey encountered leprosy for thevery first time, he was stunned, he wasquoted, "I almost shuddered...yet at thesame time I was fascinated, and I felt, ifever there was a Christ-like work in theworld it was to go amongst these poorsufferers and bring them the consolation,the hope". In the midst of the peoplesuffering from the disease at Chitpur, onesimply cannot agree more. The diseasestill has such a stigma attached to it, andthis stigma results in people leaving it fartoo late in seeking out a doctor. If thedisease is found in the early stages it isone hundred percent curable. HoweverLeprosy is endemic in West Bengal,particularly in the southern part of theState. The disease affects around 12% ina population of around 60 million. Of thesepatients,1.5% are blind due to thecomplications of leprosy whether fromcomplicated cataract or uveal affection. One such lady at the Chitpur clinic ShantiDevi who is 75 and has suffered fromleprosy for fifteen years, she had cataractsand was blinded by them for many years. When she came to the Chitpur clinic theCR doctors admitted her to hospital tohave them removed. She informs us, "When I arrived at the hospital I was aninvalid my daughter took care of me as Icould not see. I was in hospital for onemonth and Calcutta Rescue paid foreverything. When the doctors took off mybandages after the operation I could see.

. The first thing I saw was my daughterand she was the most beautiful thing Ihave ever seen. I came to the hospitalincapable of helping my self but when I leftit, I had the ability of caring for myself."The need is infinite in Calcutta," said DrPreger. "You get all kinds of migrantscoming in - some are without any work,some have been evicted from thesquatter's colonies, the slums." "There isno one organization that could possiblymanage the health care of that populationin Calcutta," he said. "There are estimatedto be a million people on the streets inKolkata, the actual medical needs of mostof those people cannot be met, either bythe government or a charity or NGO." One such colony of people that CalcuttaRescue attempts to supply excellenthealth care to, is some 300 people,refugees from Bangladesh. These peoplewere recently evicted from an inner cityslum area, in the Canal area of Kolkatta. The people of the slum believe that thegovernment started a fire in their slums toforcibly remove them. Of course thesemarginalized and forgotten people haveno proof. The new area on the outskirts ofKolkatta, has one water pump, no toilets,there is nothing out there for these people,but even so, together they built littleshacks from bamboo and old plastic bags.The medical team actually drives anambulance directly into this poorest of thepoor slums on the outskirts of Kolkata toprovide medical services. The Doctorscome out here with a well-recordedimmunization program; they providevitamins and education regarding hygiene. At one such makeshift clinic from out theback of an ambulance, I met two little girlsthe elder a sad quiet little 8 year old and

her very frightened little 2-year-old sister.Together they climbed up into theambulance to be immunized and givenvitamins. The little two year old wascrying, just like any baby does when beingimmunized. When the job was done andthe brave eight year old picked up her littlesister and gently placed her back up onher hip and drifted back to the slums, thedoctor turned to me and told me, ' they areall alone, they have nobody to take care ofthem, so now they stay here in the slums." Their parents - the victims of the fire thatbroke out in the inner city canal area slum. There were many people who lost theirslum homes in this fire- and like these twotiny girls, they had nowhere else to go butto the outskirts of town, where somefamilies have set up make shift shacks.They have no water, toilets and no idea ofhygiene and sanitization, apart from thevital care that is provided by CalcuttaRescue. The public health system of Kolkata andWest Bengal are despicable. Public healthis often context-bound and it is notmeeting the needs of ground-level realitiesfaced by the people of the streets andslums. In an ideal world there would be no needfor the help from an NGO that providesvital life saving and changing medicaltreatments such as those provided byCalcutta rescue. Recently a down on hisluck rat catcher (one of the trades of thepoor in Kolkatta's metropolis), was struckby a heavy metal object, which fell on hisankle in the back yard of Dr Jack. Dr Jackheard the screams and cry's for help andwent out to see what had happened to thepoor fellow. What he found when hecame to the aid of the injured rat catcher,were minor cuts and a fractured leg. However rather than send the pennilessman in an ambulance Jack took him to thehospital himself. In the fear that if he

relied on the ambulance, the man wouldhave had his leg amputated rather thanplastered. Due to the lack of bedspeople's limbs are regularly amputatedwhen simple healing would have been thebetter out come for all concerned.

The government of Bengal admits it hasbeen unable to deliver health serviceeffectively along the entire chain ofprimary to tertiary. The Left Frontgovernment here is thinking of opening upits dilapidated primary healthcare sector topublic-private partnerships. By doing so, itis admitting that despite 27 years ofunbroken rule, it does not have thewherewithal to deliver services even at thelowest levels. Dr RD Dubey, jointsecretary, the Indian Medical Association(IMA) said, "Many state primary healthcenters are not functioning because thereare no doctors there. We believe thingscan be improved if local resources areused." On the ground, doctors at medicalcolleges-cum-hospitals have to treat evensimple cases instead of functioning asreferral units. Doctors avoid rural postings,and those who do go to rural areas areoften left there for years. The best doctorsavoid teaching posts since it debars themfrom private practice. The battles areongoing between construction andcounter- construction and fundamentallyfinding out the truth about health care inthe state of Bengal. What is needed is abetter understanding of the organization ofhealth care at a system level, which wouldgo beyond the confines of the healthdepartment and delineate the appropriaterole of the government with regard to theprivate sector.There have been many disturbingincidents in the government hospitals inWest Bengal. Recently a twenty-year-oldgirl was taken to one of the governmenthospital but the doctors on duty refused to

admit her, in spite of her serious case. When they finally agreed to admit her after24 hours of her waiting on the doorstep. Itwas too late the girl did not survive herinjuries and instead was taken to themorgue. A few days before asix-month-old baby girl in a criticalcondition was being rushed by her parentsto the medical college hospital. A severetraffic jam created by a massive rally onthe way rendered the parents completelyhelpless. When they finally reached thehospital they were told that they had todeposit 1000 rupees around 14 Eurosbefore treatment could be started. Theunfortunate parents did not have thatamount with them. By the time theyreturned with the money, it was too late,their baby had died. These are notisolated incidents there have been manysimilar cases of negligence and suchhorror stories as stray cats and dogspreying on the new borns in thegovernment hospitals. A few doctors havebeen removed from their positions due totheir negligence. And a series ofgovernment orders have been passed,one of which states, "no governmenthospital can refuse to admit any patientirrespective of the availability of beds. These steps the government believeswould pacify the people at least for a time.In its long 27 years, this is not the first timethat the Left Front run government in WestBengal is faced with such embarrassmenton the health front.

Yet, amidst all this governmental chaosand disorganization, Dr Jack Preger andthe team at Calcutta Rescue's work goeson in orderly highly organized way. Theclinics, the schools, the training centers,the oases of hope in Calcutta's soullessslums. It is a tribute not just to anamazing doctor who will not yield to abullying government that throws its brute

might behind its cruel system. It is also a tribute to a man's indomitable spiritthat keeps fighting the Kafka-esque system in a foreign land that he hasaccepted as his own workplace. For those who live on the mean streets, inthe darkest slums of Kolkata, for the poorest of the poor, as Mother Teresaso poignantly described them, Preger is the face of hope. Of love andcharity. The one man who could save them from sickness and certain deathwithout ever asking you whether you are a Hindu or a Muslim, a Brahmin ora Dalit. Nor would he try to figure out if you can afford the treatment.Without Calcutta Rescue, the poor of Kolkata will continue to live their livesin a constant prayer, in lonely isolation, that only the truly humble and weak,will ever understand.

Captions

2364-01: A Scene at sunset of the districtknow as the Canal slums, where many ofthe people are forced to live in squallerwith no fresh water, no toilets in Kolkatta.

2364-02: This picture shows people livingin their slum area community and how onewoman seems to be preparing theevening meal. The slum area is know asthe Canal district and some of the peoplehave been settled here for a round 30years. However recently the governmenthas been forcibly evicting them morefrequently as it has plans for building inthe area.

2364-03: Dr. Jack Preger MBE, a BritishMedical Doctor, began providing medicalcare to the destitute on the streets ofCalcutta over 25 years ago. This wasCalcutta rescues beginning. Since then hehas worked tirelessly to build it into thethriving NGO it is today. He is currentlyleading efforts to diagnose and treatMultiple Drug Resistant Tuberculosis(MDR TB) and drug resistant HIV/AIDS,both emerging public health problems.

2364-04: This service is provided for freeand Calcutta Rescues takes a team ofdoctors and out reach staff, drives thisambulance to the outskirts of kolkatta tothis squat area, twice a week to providefree medical care. These 300 peopleliving out here have been evicted by theIndian government from there inner citysquat. They live with no basic hygienerequirements, no toilets and only twowater pumps between them. They aregiven no education; some of the peopleare refugees from Bangladesh.

2364-05: Patients wait in the back ofCalcutta rescues out reach medical clinic,the patients are being immunized givenworming paste, vitamins and their generalhealth is checked.

2364-06: patients wait to see the doctor inthe back of an ambulance, which comesto treat them with free medical servicestwice per week.they live in a no mans land calledNONADANGA II in the eastern fringes ofthe city.

2364-07:The staff of Calcutta rescueexplain some medical treatment to amother regarding her child. In the back ofthe ambulance. This service is providedfor free and Calcutta Rescues takes ateam of doctors and out reach staff, toNonadanga drives the ambulance rightinto the squat area where 300 people livewith no basic needs or education, twice aweek. Some of the people are refugeesfrom Bangladesh.

2364-08: Debu Chakraborbiy is an outreach medical assistant with CalcuttaRescue and has been working with themfor around ten years, he is pictured heregiving 2-year-old Oberdi Sanga somevitamins and de worming past to the child. Who's parent died in the recent fire, whichbroke out in their old home in the canaldistrict slums. She lives here alone withher 8 year old sister Piasckau, althoughchildren in these place rarely stay alonefor long, some family usually takes pity onthem and gives them a roof over theirheads and feeds them whatever food theyhave.

2364-09: A young lady with severalchildren reads the instructions for hermedication, demonstrated in pictures asshe is illiterate. She has been given the

medicine after seeing to the doctor in theambulance set up at Nanatanga. Thisservice is provided for free and CalcuttaRescues takes a team of doctors and outreach staff, to Nonatanga on the eastfringes of kolkatta drives the ambulanceright into the squat area, where 300people live with no basic needs oreducation, twice a week. Some of thepeople are refugees from Bangladesh.

2364-10: Out reach worker and Calcuttarescue staff member Debu Chakraborbiy ,is giving a talk to Mothers at Nontanga anarea on the eastern outskirts of Kolkata. There are around 300 people living insqualor in these slums, only 2 waterpumps and no toilets. Debu is beingeducating them regarding hygiene, worms,parasite, sanitization and generalcleanliness issues.

2364-11: 4-year-old Chongittash lives insqualor at an area on the Eastern outskirts of kolkatta called NonadangaII.

2364-12: A young boy holds his ill brother,the little boy has the beginnings ofmalnutrican and the elder boy tries to feedhim some small piece of food. They live inthe squat area of Nanatonga, it is around40 kms from the city and there are notoilets, only two pumps and 300 refugees. The only help they get from anyone is afree medical service that Calcutta rescueprovides twice a week.

2364-13: A young girl around 1 years withher malnourished baby. Parents try andmarry off their daughters as quickly aspossible as they burden of feeding them istoo great on the family. . They live in thesquat area of Nanatonga, it is around 40kms from the city and there are no toilets,only two pumps and 300 refugees. The

only help they get from anyone is a freemedical service that Calcutta rescueprovides twice a week.

2364-14: A malnourished baby whosemother is only 15 years old. Parents tryand marry off their daughters as quickly aspossible as they burden of feeding them istoo great on the family. . They live in thesquat area of Nanadonga, it is around 40kms from the city and there are no toilets,only two pumps and 300 refugees. Theonly help they get from anyone is a freemedical service that Calcutta rescueprovides twice a week.

2364-15: A young woman pump cleanwater from one of the two pumps in the inthe squat area of Nanadonga, it is around40 kms, on the eastern fringes, of kolkataand there are no toilets and 300 refugees.

2364-16: A woman from one of the slumarea of Kolkata picks through rubbish as ameans to finding small pieces of plasticthat she can sell to be recycled. A meagerincome that keeps her never ending cycleof poverty in constant reality.

2364-17: Sheik Maran who is 90 years olda sufferer of the terrible illness; he hashad the leprosy for thirty years. All hisfamily is dead and he lives alone on thestreet, his only hope for survival is to putout his hand and pray to god thatsomeone gives him enough money to eat. He says, 'the worst thing about sufferingfrom leprosy is that it is getting more andmore difficult to walk about', and that now,not even his hands work properly. Hesays that the only help he gets fromanyone in the world is the CalcuttaRescue, every two weeks he visits theirLeprosy clinic to have his woundsdressed.

2364-18: Sheik Maran who is 90 years olda sufferer of the terrible illness; he hashad the leprosy for thirty years. All hisfamily is dead and he lives alone on thestreet, his only hope for survival is to putout his hand and pray to god thatsomeone gives him enough money to eat. He says, 'the worst thing about sufferingfrom leprosy is that it is getting more andmore difficult to walk about', and that now,not even his hands work properly. Hesays that the only help he gets fromanyone in the world is the CalcuttaRescue, every two weeks he visits theirLeprosy clinic to have his woundsdressed.

2364-19: A young mother suffers fromleprosy, she is being consulted by thedoctor at the Chitpur Leprosy clinic, theclinic is a makeshift affair, but thetreatment is not. Only the most effectiveanti-leprosy drugs are dispensed whilestumps and sores are expertly cleanedand bandaged.

2364-20: A young mother sufferer ofleprosy shows the signs of the diseasethrough loss of her fingers. Her babyholds her hand at the Chitpuri leprosyclinic on the outskirts of Ckalkota. Theclinic is run for free by Calcutta rescue.

2364-21: A young mother sufferer ofleprosy shows the signs of the diseasethrough loss of her fingers. Calcuttarescue hold a free leprosy clinic and sheattend every two weeks to have herdisease checked by doctors, her woundsdressed and support given. She holdsonto her young child and the pain of thereality of her life is etched into her pretty

face.

2364-22: Calcutta Rescue, every twoweeks most patients visit their Leprosyclinic to have his wounds dressed. Theclinic is a makeshift affair, but thetreatment is not. Only the most effectiveanti-leprosy drugs are dispensed whilestumps and sores are expertly cleanedand bandaged. Leprosy is one of theoldest diseases, a disease often spokenabout in the bible. It was not discoveredin the modern world until 1869 by amissionary named Wellesley Bailey. When Bailey encountered leprosy for thevery first time, he was stunned, he wasquoted, "I almost shuddered ... yet at thesame time I was fascinated, and I felt, ifever there was a Christ-like work in theworld it was to go amongst these poorsufferers and bring them the consolation,the hope". In the midst of the peoplesuffering from the disease at Chitpur, onesimply cannot agree more. One of theimportant things when suffering leprosy isto keep your limbs moving as shown herethis man plays with a ball to move hishands.

2364-23: Calcutta Rescue, hold Leprosyclinic 3 times per week, wounds arecleaned and dressed. The clinic is amakeshift affair, but the treatment is not.Only the most effective anti-leprosy drugsare dispensed while stumps and sores areexpertly cleaned and bandaged. Leprosyis one of the oldest diseases, a diseaseoften spoken about in the bible.

2364-24: Sheik Mohammad 70 years atthe chitpur Leprosy clinic although he losthis leg to the disease the doctors atCalcutta Rescue had a new artificial legmade for him and he seems to get aboutquite well with it. He attends the chitpurclinic every two weeks to have the doctor

check his symptoms and have his woundscleaned and dressed. He travel 4 hours ona train to get there and then turns aroundto return. Citizens with disabilities get freetrain travel in India.

2364-25: Sheik Mohammad 70 years shown here during a doctor consultation,at the chitpur Leprosy clinic although helost his leg to the disease the doctors atCalcutta Rescue had a new artificial legmade for him and he seems to get aboutquite well with it. He attends the chitpurclinic every two weeks to have the doctorcheck his symptoms and have his woundscleaned and dressed. He travel 4 hours ona train to get there and then turns aroundto return. Citizens with disabilities get freetrain travel in India.

2364-26: Sheik Mohammad 70 years atthe chitpur Leprosy clinic although he losthis leg to the disease the doctors atCalcutta Rescue had a new artificial legmade for him and he seems to get aboutquite well with it. He attends the chitpurclinic every two weeks to have the doctorcheck his symptoms and have his woundscleaned and dressed. He travel 4 hours ona train to get there and then turns aroundto return. Citizens with disabilities get freetrain travel in India. He is off on his wayhome now and looks pleased with theservice he has been given for free today.

2364-27: Calcutta Rescue, every twoweeks he visits their Leprosy clinic to havehis wounds dressed. The clinic is amakeshift affair, but the treatment is not.Only the most effective anti-leprosy drugsare dispensed while stumps and sores areexpertly cleaned and bandaged. Leprosyis one of the oldest diseases, a diseaseoften spoken about in the bible. It was notdiscovered in the modern world until 1869by a missionary named Wellesley Bailey.

When Bailey encountered leprosy for thevery first time, he was stunned, he wasquoted, "I almost shuddered ... yet at thesame time I was fascinated, and I felt, ifever there was a Christ-like work in theworld it was to go amongst these poorsufferers and bring them the consolation,the hope". In the midst of the peoplesuffering from the disease at Chitpur, onesimply cannot agree more.

2364-28: Calcutta Rescue, every twoweeks he visits their Leprosy clinic to havehis wounds dressed. The clinic is amakeshift affair, but the treatment is not.Only the most effective anti-leprosy drugsare dispensed while stumps and sores areexpertly cleaned and bandaged. Leprosyis one of the oldest diseases, a diseaseoften spoken about in the bible. It was notdiscovered in the modern world until 1869by a missionary named Wellesley Bailey. When Bailey encountered leprosy for thevery first time, he was stunned, he wasquoted, "I almost shuddered... yet at thesame time I was fascinated, and I felt, ifever there was a Christ-like work in theworld it was to go amongst these poorsufferers and bring them the consolation,the hope". In the midst of the peoplesuffering from the disease at Chitpur, onesimply cannot agree more.

2364-29: UMAESH MURTI 28 isemployed by Calcutta rescue to makespecial shoes for the lepers who loose thefeeling in their feet and so are vulnerableto further injuries. The shoes are alsogiven to diabetic people. His father beforehim was also a shoe maker and heproudly continues the tradition workingwith CR.

2364-30: A young girl at the ChitpuriLeprosy clinic has her wounds cleanedand dressed with the constant care from

the doctors she should be 100 percentcured.

2364-31: SHANTY DEVI, during aconsultation with the doctor at the ChitpurLeprosy clinic, the clinic is a makeshiftaffair, but the treatment is not. Only themost effective anti-leprosy drugs aredispensed while stumps and sores areexpertly cleaned and bandaged. One ofthe symptoms of leprosy can be cataractsand Shanty was suffering with them andcompletely blind around one year ago. Thanks to the doctors of Calcutta Rescue,they paid to send her to a private hospitalto have them removed. She said " I wasin hospital for one month and the Calcuttarescue paid for everything, when I went inI was an invalid as I could not see and mydaughter had to care for me all thetime"."When the doctors, took off my eyebandages, I was so amazed that I couldsee and the first thing I saw was mydaughter and she was so beautiful". Today Shanty although still a sufferer fromleprosy feels so happy because she canat least care for herself and see the worldagain.

2364-32: A woman who seems in painand deep in thought as she sits in thewaiting room of the Calcutta Rescue, Leprosy clinic, which is held 3 times perweek. Her wounds will be expertly cleanedand dressed. The clinic is a makeshiftaffair, but the treatment is not. Only themost effective anti-leprosy drugs aredispensed while stumps and sores areexpertly cleaned and bandaged. Leprosyis one of the oldest diseases, a diseaseoften spoken about in the bible. Thedisease is still associated with much

shame and people are often out cast fromtheir communities. Although the diseaseis almost 100% curable, many peopleleave it too late to get to a doctor in timefor it to be cured. Either due to therebeing no doctor, no money for one orshame.

2364-33: The waiting room of the freemedical clinic located within the compoundof the Loreto Day School, this daily clinicprovides treatment for a range of ailmentsincluding diabetes, heart diseases, cancerand neurological conditions.

2364-34: A patient leaves the waitingroom of the free medical clinic locatedwithin the compound of the Loreto DaySchool, this daily clinic provides treatmentfor a range of ailments including diabetes,heart diseases, cancer and neurologicalconditions. She is studying the pack ofmedicines she has been given by thedoctor. Many of the patients are illiterateand so instructions are in picture form.

2364-35: A man who sufferes fromLeprosy and has lost his legs, walks abouton his stomps with specially designedshoes provided for free by the Calcuttarescue. Seen here at the Sealdahmedical clinic which is in easy reach to citydwellers left to live on the streets and inslums.

2364-36: A man who sufferes fromLeprosy and has lost his legs, walks abouton his stomps with specially designedshoes provided for free by the Calcuttarescue. Seen here at the Sealdahmedical clinic which is in easy reach to citydwellers left to live on the streets and inslums.

2364-37: An elderly man feels discomfortin his eye whilst attending the daily free

medical clinic located within the compoundof the Loreto Day School, this daily clinicprovides treatment for a range of ailmentsincluding diabetes, heart diseases, cancerand neurological conditions.

2364-38: An elderly man feels discomfortin his eye, which shows sign of cattarach,whilst attending the daily free medicalclinic located within the compound of theLoreto Day School, this daily clinicprovides treatment for a range of ailmentsincluding diabetes, heart diseases, cancerand neurological conditions.

2364-39: An elderly man sho suffers fromcataracts waits in the waiting room ofSealda clinic which is situated in LorretoSchool. His grand child leans on him ashe is probably tired from the long wait. The clinic is open every day andsometimes see's up to 300 patients.

2364-40: A baby cries as she has justbeen given an important needle forimmunization, by nurses at Calcuttarescue.

2364-41: A brave child looks worried asshe has just been given an importantneedle for immunization, by nurses atCalcutta rescue.

2364-42: Street Children attending schoolat Tala Park, enjoy a nutrious mealprovided by Calcutta rescue.

2364-43: Street Child attending school atTala Park, enjoy a nutrious meal providedby Calcutta rescue.

2364-44: A mother struggles with her childwho suffers from down syndrome, she isout the from of the clinic in Tala park andwill be transported to the Sealda clinic inthe Calcutta rescue van, so as her child

can receive a free immunization.

2364-45: In a loaned office given by theBengal government in Panchayat far eastin village around 4 hours drive fromKolkata. Calcutta Rescue holds a cliniccalled Kaparpuri, today they are educatingand medicating tuberculosis suffers forfree. These pictures are part of theeducational material.

2364-46: In a loaned office given by theBengal government in Panchayat far eastin village around 4 hours drive fromKolkata . Calcutta Rescue holds a cliniccalled Kaparpuri, today they are educatingand medicating tuberculosis suffers forfree.This woman has just taken hermedicine and appears to find swallowingdifficult.

2364-47: In a loaned office given by theBengal government in Panchayat far eastin village around 4 hours drive fromKolkata. Calcutta Rescue holds a cliniccalled Kaparpuri, today they are educatingand medicating tuberculosis suffers forfree.Show here is Parilily Bibi with herbaby Muskan Bibi who is 4mths, they bothhave TB. Parilily first noticed hersymptoms four months ago when shestarted to cough up blood and she hashad a fever ever since. She say's shefeels very tired and that everything is aneffort. She only recently found out thatboth her daughters the other 8years,tested positive too after a sputin test. They will all be on medication and shouldbe cured within six months. She thanksthe team from Calcutta rescue, she thinksthey angels sent from god, or maybe evengod's themselves.

2364-48: At the clinic for tuberculosissuffers,'Kaparpuri',8-year-old Devi Bibi hasbeen diagnosed with Tuberculosis after a

sputin test performed by doctors fromCalcutta Rescue, who set up clinics nearher village in rural Bengal. Around 170patients were detected here last year. Without these clinics they would goundetected and the disease would spreadto the greater population. The clinics playa vital role in controlling the disease.Government programmes fighting againstthe spread of TB have thus far provedineffective and the efforts of NGOs likeCalcutta Rescue are a small drop in theocean, but the fight presses on.

2364-49: Ballav Bahaur 65 of Taldi, he isa sufferer from Tb and says he feels sovery weak, "I cannot move swiftly and I amso skinny, no meat in my skin". He saidhe regulary coughs blood and feels hemust have something else wrong with hisbones too but he is so scared that doctorshave not found it, he says hew thinks itmust be cancer and that he will die. However after the doctor inspected hismedical reports he confirmed that he hada very bad case of Tuberculosis andbecause of his weakness may not survivethe coming summer where temperaturesare expected to reach over 45 degresscelcious.

2364-50: Ballav Bahaur 65 of Taldi, he isa sufferer from Tb, walks to the CalcuttaRescue sub clinic called Patikhali. Peoplecome from miles around as there is closeto a train line and services many villagerswho would otherwise find no medicalassistance.

2364-51: Ballav Bahaur 65 of Taldi,receiving medication from a doctor fromCalcutta Rescue village sub clinic called

Patikhali, he is a sufferer from Tb andsays he feels so very weak, "I cannotmove swiftly and I am so skinny, no meatin my skin". He said he regulary coughsblood and feels he must have somethingwrong with his bones too but the doctorshave not found it, he says hew thinks itmust be cancer and that he will die. However after the doctor inspected hismedical reports he confirmed that he hada very bad case of Tuberculosis andbecause of his weakness may not survivethe coming summer where temperaturesare expected to reach over 45 degresscelcious.

2364-52: An ancient woman who probablyhas spent her whole life living in this slumnext the canal area of Kolkata, prepares toenter her shack, showing how houseproud and aware of hygene by slipping offher shoes to go inside. Even though herfloor is made of dirt. She is a goodexample of the dignity and pride thepeople from the slums and streets stillhold for themselves.