Changing Lives in Kalej Valley

“My children look up to me ask me if I am a doctor," Laxmi explains. "I hope by seeing me do this work they also may become interested.” Photo: Liz Larson/Mercy Corps

In a remote area of West Bengal on the road to Darjeeling bazaar, down a steep, rocky two-track road, the Kalej Valley tea plantation operates as it has since colonial times. Kalej Valley, named for a local species of pheasant with colorful plumage, is home to acres and acres of centenarian tea plants, a processing factory and hundreds of local tea plantation workers and their families. Inside the factory, turn-of-the-century equipment process some of the best teas in the world, and the residents of Kalej Valley pluck it by hand as they have for generations.

The Community Health and Advancement Initiative (CHAI) project, borne of a partnership between Mercy Corps and Oregon-based TAZO Tea Company and implemented through local partner DEG, initiated work in the community three years ago with the objective of raising the standard of living for those tea workers living on the plantation. Among other activities, CHAI began a health program which trains local volunteers as paramedics who now function as the only trained health workers in the valley.

The Kalej Valley community elected two local women to become the area's health volunteers. Laxmi Tamang, 29, and Merina Mukia, 25, become animated when explaining how and why they became health volunteers for the CHAI project.

"I saw so many people die of diarrhea and dehydration," Merina laments. "I saw people die on the road on the way to seek help." Seeing this injustice as a child, Merina wanted to do something about it.

Through the CHAI project, both women took a three month paramedic training and now dedicate their time to community health-related activities in Kalej Valley. While at the training, they studied infant and maternal health, water and sanitation, immunizations, first aid and illnesses common to rural West Bengal. They now divide their time between making house calls, prescribing basic medicines and accompanying patients with more acute health issues to the local hospital.

Through a combination of home visits and public meetings, Marina and Laxmi have successfully chipped away at the spread of water borne diseases in their village by educating people about water sanitation practices.

By accompanying pregnant women to delivery centers in town, Marina and Laxmi offer alternatives to women whose only other option might be the local, and often poorly trained, birth attendant. The women accompany others needing medical attention to local hospitals and are able to read prescription medicine directions to often illiterate residents of Kalej Valley. Laxmi and Merina act as liaisons for villagers who might not be aware that medical help exists, or might be too shy to interact with doctors on their own.

Although the women must balance their responsibilities as a health volunteers with their regular domestic duties, they both want to give something back to their communities. Often being summoned in the middle of the night for medical emergencies, Laxmi and Merina do not view their work as a burden.

"I am interested in this, so it is not difficult," explains Laxmi, "My children look up to me ask me if I am a doctor. I hope by seeing me do this work they also may become interested."

According to both women, the health volunteer activities have been the impetus behind many changes in the community. Kalej Valley residents are using water and sanitation principles taught to them by Laxmi and Merina, and consequently, the incidence of water-borne disease has plummeted. Families have learned about boiling water before drinking, and how to keep clean. Locals know to seek help from the women.

Not only have Laxmi and Merina witnessed significant changes in Kalej Valley, but each woman has experienced personal changes as a result of thier work as well. The women report an increased confidence level and an ability to speak in front of others.

"Even I can do something for the community," Merina beams. "I realized that I am worth it. I can change the life of the people."