Abha Seva SadanMultitherapy Charitable Health

CentreA Rural Health Care Project of AMURT

P.O. Kashijharia, Dist. Bokaro Jharkhand, India

Location of our project. This area of India is among the

poorest, most neglected parts of

the country.

Local conditions

The dry climate, rocky soil and primitive agriculture make survival a struggle for the rural population.

The standard of living is very low and the basic necessities of life are rarely met.

A nearby village. Illiteracy reaches nearly 80%.

There is no running water. The villagers must get water from wells that may be contaminated.

Malnourishment

• 70% of the people in these local communities are malnourished. As a result many have severe growth deformities.

• Without proper food brain development is also affected. This prevents them from grasping simple concepts of nutrition and hygiene.

Those children lucky enough to get

schooling must often walk long

distances through the heat without proper food to sustain them.

In most villages there is neither a doctor, nurse nor midwife - diseases go untreated and many

mothers die during childbirth.

A day at Abha Seva Sadan Health Centre.

• People wait for treatments under the shade of the trees.

• Patient registration and screening for allocation to either homeopathy, acupuncture or allopathy.

At our first day of medical service: a

mother and her emaciated baby.

Deficiencies and diseases due to malnutrition are common here.

Many children are clothed in rags. Poor village women may come in a colorful sari, wearing their only set of good clothes for the visit to the doctor.

Infectious diseases like tuberculosis, polio,

leprosy and malaria are widespread.

5% of the children suffer from cerebral

palsy.

This boy is blind on one eye since many years due to malnutrition and infection. The parents have no money for medical treatment.

A patient awaiting treatment for leprosy and chronic skin infection.

Patients waiting for registration and treatment.

A boy is assessed to see which treatment is most suitable for

his condition.

Some of the patients.

Allopathy

• Allopathic treatments with volunteer doctors.

• Many patients come each week, putting pressure on the workers and the finances.

Allopathic treatment.

An assistant explains to the mostly illiterate patients how to take the prescribed medicine.

Acupuncture office.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is increasing in popularity as the patients recognize its ability to heal in many different types of ailments.

Acupuncture treatment.

• This man suffered paralysis due to a stroke. Most have a weakened immune system & working under the heat of the sun can often trigger illnesses such as a stroke.

• We need more funding in order to offer this service on a daily basis.

• It is currently available three days a week.

Homeopathic treatment.

Dispensing homeopathic medicine.

A special day arranged for dental treatment.

A children’s health check-up.

Aims & Objectives

To provide multi-therapy health care to one of the poorest regions in India.

A mobile medical unit, for medical camps in more distant villages.

Health education: through drama, sports, games.

Nutritional education program: explaining the benefits of common local plants.

The herbal gardenprovides education to the

patients about which plants are nutritious and

easy to find.

New series of education programs for AIDS and Malaria prevention.

• A lot of time and funding was invested in filming a drama about nutrition.

• There are weekly screenings in surrounding villages.

• A vital channel of education which is very popular amongst the villagers.

Screening of the nutritional education drama at the clinic.

Education

• The clinic also educates children by visiting neighbouring schools.

• They write wall slogans like ‘take plenty of greens and you will be free of disease’ and ‘take carrots and you will be free of night blindness.

Children learning about hygiene and nutrition.

Health education program in a nearby village.

Training of village health care workers.

Teaching people cheap methods to disinfect well water by using bleaching powder.

• With the rainy season the new series of well cleaning programs begins.

• Many homes also need spraying of diluted phenyl to rid the house of potentially harmful bacteria and parasites.

Recent Progress

The electricity supply is very unreliable. Solar panels were donated to ensure the electrical equipment can

always be operating.

There are now 82 plants, 57 medicinal herbs and 25 varieties of nutritional herbs and greens.

• Expanding the herbal garden.

• Functioning better as a result of a new irrigation system.

• Also 50 banana trees were planted.

At least once a year the clinic distributes clothes and blankets to the poorest members of local communities.

Children's Programs

• Occasionally programs are being held at the clinic for children.

• They consist of games and collective activities. Many children show up and so far these programs have been very successful and positive for the children.

Some of the children who

have enjoyed the activities at the

clinic.

With the recent addition of physiotherapy children suffering from cerebral palsy can walk

for the first time.

There are limited finds for physiotherapy. Currently this service is provided one day a

week to approximately 15 patients.

In July & August 2007 89 wells in nearby villages were cleaned and disinfected.

A homeopathic doctor also comes to explain the importance of keeping the wells clean and to educate

about waterborne diseases.

• July 2007: 827 outpatients = 32 per day

• August 2007: 791 outpatients = 30 per day

Glasses Distribution Program.An ophthalmologist tests their eyes to determine which

strength they need and provides them with free glasses.

In August 07 a local NGO asked the clinic to give a workshop to women about waterborne diseases and

malnutrition. Approx 70 women attended.

~ Ananda Marga ~Self-Realization and Service to All

Category Euro

• Staff salaries 339• Medicines/Med. supplies 54• Transport 62• Office 17• Food 36• Household 54• Tel. / Internet 45• Miscellaneous 36• TOTAL: 643

Average Monthly Expenditure.

Monthly Staff Salaries

• Dr Dilip Rout: Acupuncture 178• Dr. Prabhas Mahato: Homeopathy 71• Jaiprakash: Acupuncture assistant 27• Rampad: General Assistant 21• Bansi: General Assistant 14• Sapna Kumari: Homeopathy Assistant 10• Mutuk: Labour (gardening etc) 18

TOTAL: 339

~Visions for the future~~

Required future staff:• General supervisor • 5 clinical assistants• Physiotherapy 3 days a

week• Physiotherapy assistant• Part time herbalist• Receptionist• Nurse• Lab technician• Night guard

• An additional 500 euro a month is needed to enable this to happen and for the clinic to expand in its medical outreach programs.

Clinic construction & infrastructure.

• 1 Dry heat sterilizer• 1 secondhand computer• 12 mattresses & covers• Bathroom facilities• Waiting hall• Landscaping against soil erosion• Physiotherapy treatment hall• Medical and lab equipment• 100cc motorcycle• 4 volunteers beds• Septic tank• Office equipment & furniture

• Intercom• X-ray unit• Ambulance• Construction of upper floor (5

additional rooms)

Approximately an additional 40,000 euro is needed in order to be able to achieve these new improvements.

For more information:

• www.rural-health-india.org

• Email: dsa5@gmx.net

(Dada Devashuddhananda)

• Tel.: +91 - 99343 - 06890