International Village Clinic - Abul Sharah
Posted by Steve Frazier
Our Program on July 27th was presented by Abul Sharah. Abul is a member of the Bloomington Club, and is the founder of International Village Clinic in Chandauli, India. He has been giving us annual updates on progress of the clinic for the last five years. Our club is one of the local Rotary Clubs that helps support the clinic, along with grants from RI.
Abul was born near Chandauli, but left India at an early age. He returned often and was concerned about the lack of medical care in Indian villages. He started International Village Clinics in 2002, and was able to build a hospital and start providing basic medical services. Among the services are two ambulances that provide emergency transportation 24/7 for residents. Starting with a doctor, nurse and pharmacist, the staff has now grown to 38.
The work done by the clinic is divided into two focuses: curative and preventative. The curative staff at the hospital provided the following services in 2009: 52,000 patients were served, with 3600 emergency cases; two 24/7 ambulances; 106 surgeries; 1030 patients housed in the 12 bed hospital; and delivered 47 babies. The clinic refers the more complicated cases to hospitals in nearby cities.
Started after the curative program, the preventative program is designed to give a healthy start in life to newborns and their mothers as well as education to the natives to encourage a healthier life style. The 25 social workers in this program ride bicycles to visit the 12 villages served in 2009, and they provide health seminars, nutritional supplements to pregnant women and young children, vaccinations, and a visiting nurse service to women during their pregnancy.
And the miracle of the whole thing is that the annual cost of providing these services is $175,000. (Story by Tad Shaw and posting and photo by Steve Frazier)
Abul was born near Chandauli, but left India at an early age. He returned often and was concerned about the lack of medical care in Indian villages. He started International Village Clinics in 2002, and was able to build a hospital and start providing basic medical services. Among the services are two ambulances that provide emergency transportation 24/7 for residents. Starting with a doctor, nurse and pharmacist, the staff has now grown to 38.
The work done by the clinic is divided into two focuses: curative and preventative. The curative staff at the hospital provided the following services in 2009: 52,000 patients were served, with 3600 emergency cases; two 24/7 ambulances; 106 surgeries; 1030 patients housed in the 12 bed hospital; and delivered 47 babies. The clinic refers the more complicated cases to hospitals in nearby cities.
Started after the curative program, the preventative program is designed to give a healthy start in life to newborns and their mothers as well as education to the natives to encourage a healthier life style. The 25 social workers in this program ride bicycles to visit the 12 villages served in 2009, and they provide health seminars, nutritional supplements to pregnant women and young children, vaccinations, and a visiting nurse service to women during their pregnancy.
And the miracle of the whole thing is that the annual cost of providing these services is $175,000. (Story by Tad Shaw and posting and photo by Steve Frazier)