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Capturing the pain: Photo exhibition mirrors Maharashtra of Indian healthcare

A child whose mother walked three hours through a jungle in Bihar and then took a two-hour boat bike to get him to a hospital, saving him in the nick of time. A drug resistant tuberculosis patient from Manipur who is also HIV +ve feebly smiling at the camera after being rescued from a cattle shed where he was abandoned by his scared family. A malnourished boy from Telengana who weighed only 6 kilos and his heartening recovery.

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The 10-day photo exhibition opens at NCPA on Monday
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A child whose mother walked three hours through a jungle in Bihar and then took a two-hour boat bike to get him to a hospital, saving him in the nick of time. A drug resistant tuberculosis patient from Manipur who is also HIV +ve feebly smiling at the camera after being rescued from a cattle shed where he was abandoned by his scared family. A malnourished boy from Telengana who weighed only 6 kilos and his heartening recovery.

These were among the subjects of a special 10-day photo exhibition called 'While We Looked Away' which is opening at the Piramal Art Gallery, National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA), on Monday. It was difficult to believe that many of the 40 pictures were taken in the same country that has planned a Mars missions and wants a seat on the UN Security Council.

Hosted by Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) India, the exhibition will see a host of visitors including noted actress Nandita Das on Monday. She said, "Access to healthcare is something that we often take for granted because we can afford it. But for millions of people across the world and in India, that is far from reality. Each of these photos have a story of their own. Of pain, hope and the zeal to live. They also capture the stories of dedicated health workers who go that extra mile to provide care. It is definitely a good way to bring back to the discussion board the very important issue of healthcare in India."

All the 40 photographs in the exhibition, which has come to Mumbai for the first time, are by Canadian photographer of Indian origin Sami Siva. It documents the daily lives of (MSF) patients in India and the circumstances around their treatment. "I've shot in really challenging locales and situations but these were completely unlike anything one has ever seen. Capturing the indomitable human spirit of those battling for their lives and the caregivers without it getting infringing on them was a real challenge."

Brushing off suggestions that the camera too ends up adding another exploitative paradigm without offering any concrete solution to those suffering, he said, "I feel highlighting subject and making everyone from the government to the citizenry aware of what's going on is important. It can make for a good point to ending denial because these are photographs of real people in real situations."

Martin Sloot, General Director, MSF India said, "There are many health issues within contemporary India but they often escape our attention because of other priorities. The photo exhibition is a unique way to spread awareness about the complicated issue of access to healthcare in the country."

The photos will give visitors a sneak peek into MSF's ongoing work India in providing primary healthcare, treating kala azar, malnutrition and also providing treatment for HIV/AIDS and drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Iqbal, a former drug resistant tuberculosis patient who completed his two-year-long treatment at MSF's Mumbai clinic will also share his story of recovery on the occasion.

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