The health unit thought it would be a good idea to take doctors down the Yamuna to show them the pollution as it exists. We had with us 7 doctors from various streams- pediatricians, cardiologist, orthopaedician, geneticist, and a doctor working on micronutrient deficiency. Naturally, the first basic question they all wanted to know was why them and why this trip? Since it was the first time for the health unit to be organising a boat ride (along with EEU) especially for medical professionals, it was more of learning experience for us and we had no specific agenda set. We wanted the doctors to tell us what they saw and give us a feedback as to the issues that could be taken up hence.

Enthusiastically we all boarded the tiny boat. And soon the enthusiasm gave way to despair. Pollution to its extreme! Was this the river that provides us with drinking water? It was filth all around. We looked like tiny people surrounded by hoards of plastics, bottles, and dry flowers, amidst other floating objects all around. It took us about an hour and a half to reach from one bank to the other. This time was best utilized by the doctors to throw up basic questions. Throughout the journey we had to cover our faces to avoid the foul smell all around us. God knows what was brewing down the river. Bubbles came resurfacing all through. Pesticides? Dioxins? The only creature loyal to this river is a lone monkey who sits on a small electricity pole- getting his food from the boatmen passing by. Certain vegetables grown on some of the mini islands on our way are what we eat!! The water used for growing them is this same filthy water.

The discussion later threw up interesting points.

• Pediatricians felt that they could be involved in passing on the message of clean water and sanitation to the community.
• Cardiologist Sanjiv Dhawan was interested to know whether exposure to any pesticides was linked to cardiovascular ailments.
• Subhash Arya, head of pediatrics, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, expressed concern that while big hospitals got their uniform laundered and autoclaved, where did the small hospitals give their laundries to wash? Were they washed on the banks of this dirty river?
• Vinita Jain, a pediatrician, wondered whether children with attention deficit disorders had any relation with high levels of lead or other pesticides, making them more hyperactive.
• Geneticist Sunita Bijornia whilst admitting that patient awareness had resulted in more cases of cancer among children being registered and bought for treatment, also said that a doctor could provide NGOs like CSE the required database for studying and analyzing trends for the same.
• Educating the public on personal hygiene and sanitation was of paramount importance said Rajiv Tandon with the USAID programme on micronutrient deficiency. Perhaps rainwater-harvesting alternatives could become a part of this educational programme.

The ride was an enlightening one- both for the doctors, as well as for the health unit, because it threw up areas of common interest wherein we could have an interface with the medical community.