 |
St. Thomas Health Center, Mendipathar Caring for sick villagers in the East Garo Hills of India is one of hundreds of ways in which Medical Mission Sisters around the world try to be a healing presence to others today. Over 7500 patients are treated annually at our St. Thomas Health Center in Mendipathar, in the East Garo Hills of Northeast India. Managed with the help of health workers trained by our Sisters, the Center accommodates people from 60 villages, with a daily clinic and outreach programs. Sister Johanna Charanakunnel serves with 6 health workers at the dispensary. She shares, “Though the interior villages are still in the ‘Mite Doka’ stage (a belief that sickness is caused by evil spirits), our constant awareness programs and health education has changed the mindset of some people, and they come for the full course of treatment. This past year, we were able to bring down the death rate.”
Over the past year, Sister Johanna and the staff cared for persons with fever and chill; acute respiratory infections; anemia and malnutrition; dysentery; scabies; and many more diseases and conditions. The malaria season is the most challenging. “We are caring for a very poor and marginalized group, especially mothers and children, and the mortality rate of this group is very high due to malaria and its complications during pregnancy and childbirth,” our Sisters explain. The government health department has started to provide malaria medicines, mosquito nets, and a “rapid test” kit, which helps detect the type of malarial parasite so appropriate treatment can be given. “Our hands need to be multiplied to take care of the emerging needs,” our Sisters say. With assistance from a generous donor, more health workers are being trained to take care of ordinary problems within the villages, and refer cases they cannot handle to the Center. “Thus the health worker becomes a real link between the Center and the villagers.” February 15, 2009
home
|
|
|
||||||||
