Mungeli in the News!

Anil Henry, India

First of all, I would like to share with you all that, MUNGELI HIT THE NEWS. At the beginning of this month, there was an article that was written about our work in Mungeli. For those of you who have access to the United Church of Christ News this is on page A9, for those who do not, the URL is http://www.ucc.org/ucnews/nov05/mercy.htm

First of all, I would like to share with you all that, MUNGELI HIT THE NEWS. At the beginning of this month, there was an article that was written about our work in Mungeli. For those of you who have access to the United Church of Christ News this is on page A9, for those who do not, the URL is http://www.ucc.org/ucnews/nov05/mercy.htm

It has now been a full two years since we arrived at Mungeli.  As I look back, I seem to get this feeling that we have moved a long distance from where we were.  The hospital has grown in leaps and bounds.  We are now using words like ventilators, monitors, uninterrupted water and power supply, endourology and laparoscopy, all which were a distant dream before. 

But along with this, we see conditions that make us wonder are we really going down deep enough.  This year, we treated over twelve cases of tetanus.  Most of these were due to intramuscular injections given by local quacks.  It is an irony that in the rest of the world, injections are given to prevent tetanus, but here injections are the cause of tetanus due to quackery.

We have, just in the past two months treated over 15 patients with massive injection abscesses, which require large drainage procedures, dressings, skin grafting and long hospital stay.  It is hard to believe that all this could be due to a small intramuscular injection.  There is also no doubt that just through this mode alone, we are starting to see increasing numbers of Hepatitis and of course AIDS.

Each year, we see about ten cases of rabies presenting with hydrophobia.  This too is none like I have seen before.  People are bit by rabid dogs and go to the local quack who gives some injection, makes his fast buck and tell them not to worry.  Months later they come with rabies.

Today as I write this letter, I keep going back and forth to the ICU where a father of six is struggling for his life.  He is on a ventilator and came in shock, unconscious after getting food poisoning.   His daughter was also admitted with the same and she is better.  His survival is doubtful and there are five other children who are there at home.  The mother is here with clothes in tatters and she looks like she just does not have the energy to cry.  She does not even have the energy to hold her little daughter who is oblivious to what is happening.

How can we begin to make a difference in a world with so much sorrow, people living in the midst of social injustice, where there is really no value for another human being who is uneducated and poor?

The first thing that we all must do, all around the world is to “IDENTIFY PEOPLE IN NEED.”  I am sure they are there where ever you are in the world.  As I continue in my work I know that I have to keep on hunting for needs of the people around me and I know that God will give me the strength to complete each journey as we “Share the abundance of Life with our neighbors.”

Yes we can make a difference:  “I CARE, DO YOU?”

Blessings,
Anil Henry

Anil works with the Synodical Board of Health Services of the Church of North India.  He serves as Acting Director at Christian Hospital, Mungeli along with his wife as Senior Medical Officer.”