“This was a story I really enjoyed reporting. It’s rare when reporting a medical story in an Indian slum ends up being an uplifting experience. I first got in touch with the Tata Memorial Hospital and Dr. Shastri who was the lead investigator on this study.

He put me in touch with doctors working under him and in turn I was put in touch with a group of highly enthusiastic health and social workers. With these women I visited two large slum neighborhoods in the suburbs of Mumbai. I spent two days with patients, local leaders and the health workers.

The health worker and the social workers have built a formidable network over their 12 years in these neighborhoods and that helped break the ice with the patients. Their presence also helped the cameraman and photographer who were with me.

I was also lucky that I had several hours with all of these people and didn’t have to hurry my reporting along.

Also, what really impressed me was the dedication of these women, the health and social workers, for sticking through this vast study over the years. For a one year period they even went without regular salaries because funds were slow in reaching them. Their commitment was really impressive. Especially since they’re largely unsung though vital to studies like this one.

What was also very nice was the enormous respect the doctors had for these women.

Great job, Muneeza!