Work

Don't know where to start.  Project HOPE India, PHI, has been focusing on diabetes education training.  Starting in July 2012 they are participating in a 5 year program in collaboration with the PHFI, public health foundation of India, PSI, population services of India and it is all sponsored by Eli Lily.  I will not say that I am from Pfizer!!!  This is the project I will be focusing my efforts.

An except from the project proposal: Eli Lilly and Company made a commitment over five years to fight the rising burden of non-communicable diseases in developing nations. They sell diabetes medicines.  Lilly is launching The Lilly NCD Partnership in India, UDAY, which combines the company’s unique resources with the expertise of leading global health organizations, to identify new models of patient care that increase treatment access and improve outcomes for underserved people. The partnership will focus on diabetes core business area in which Lilly has deep expertise.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), known as chronic diseases, include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases. The first phase of The Lilly NCD Partnership will focus on improving diabetes care.

PHI has four employees, Dr. Prasanta-  director who only started in December of 2011 so he wasn't part of the project negotiations, Cheena, program manager, Vishwa, HR and finance manager are in office in New Delhi, and Ciju who is based in Bangalore.  I haven't met Ciju yet but we correspond by Skype or phone. 
Everyone is extremely busy!!! but not with the current project.
I like Vishwa as he has made an effort to help me enjoy India.  He is very friendly, organized, open and wanting to make my stay in India enjoyable.  Cheena is wonderful, but too busy to offer much guidance and direction.  Ciju- I don't have an opinion yet.  Now Dr. Prasanta has made me appreciate my superiors at Pfizer.  They are leaders, organized, encouraging, and good project leaders.  Dr. Prasanta is a dictator, not encouraging, tells people what to do (if he has time), and focused only on himself.  I don't fell comfortable with him leading the project.  Yesterday he came to me to tell me about a meeting that he will have to discuss PHI plans of action and he said that he should do it alone.  I indicated that I would really like to participate in the meeting so I can understand what the other groups are thinking and that four ears are better than two.  We'll see if he includes me, I hope so. 
I have pictures here of a training session that PHI executed in BD manufacturing plant trying to get a few workers to act as leaders in diabetes prevention and education.  PHI has lots of potential to make an impact helping people control their diabetes and educate them to what is necessary to live with diabetes and how to take care of themselves with self-management. 
Over the past month I have been doing research on line to get info about other training programs, to learn about the two location study sites, Sonepot and Vizag.  Over the past few weeks I have been processing data so it can be included in a summary report from the previous PHI project.  I am comfortable doing this but wonder if it will be used.  Often when I submit info to my colleagues I don't get a response - very frustrating.  I ask myself if I should even bother but then again what else am I going to do?
Next time I write about work let's hope it is more upbeat and goal oriented.
I am here for 6 months and am not enjoying myself very much.  It's not bad but I'd rather be home doing what I enjoy  to do- being with my loved ones, garden, hiking, At the same time this is work and I don't always enjoy work.  Also volunteering may not necessarily be fun but it should be rewarding. If it was rewarding and I felt productive I am sure this would be a better experience - there are over 4 months to go so things should pick up.
Stay tuned