Evangelical Mission Hospital, Khariar and Children’s Home

Odisha, India

Read the latest update from Evangelical Hospital-Khariar

The Evangelical Hospital, Khariar, is in the Nuapada District of Odisha, India. It is currently the leading non-government health institution in the State of Odisha and Eastern Chhattisgarh, and it provides the best medical care for each patient, regardless of income.

The hospital has been serving the rural community in Odisha since 1930 when it was founded by Reverend Herman and Mrs. Marie Feierabend of the American Evangelical Mission of the Evangelical Synod of North America, a predecessor mission body of what today is Global Ministries. Since the 1970s, the Church of North India has overseen the hospital’s operations and keeps a close relationship with the Evangelical Hospital, Khariar. The church conducts morning worship services, patient visitation, and counseling, and it comforts the bereaved. Not only does the hospital cure patients and prevent disease, but the hospital also makes all attempts to impart the knowledge of God to benefit the wholeness of the person. 

Evangelical Hospital, Khariar, serves over 27,000 patients through outpatient services annually, occupies approximately 90 of its 110-bed capacity each night, and performs 1,800 surgeries. The hospital staff consists of 9 physicians, 72 nurses, and medical support staff—20 nurse midwives, 14 general staff members, and a full-time chaplain. The hospital is working toward better serving its patients and improving the community’s health by obtaining a Chemiluminescence Analyzer, CT scanner, Radio Therapy Unity, a Blood Bank Cell Separator, and additional training for paramedics.

The Evangelical Hospital, Khariar, is committed to adding these technologies and medical equipment for better diagnoses and treatments. However, the hospital building structure is rapidly becoming outdated and difficult to maintain due to structural deterioration. Recently, the ceiling in one of the oldest hallways of the hospital collapsed. The renovation of this hallway and preventing future structural damage has taken first priority for the hospital’s capital investments for the time being. Global Ministries welcomes gifts to renovate necessary areas of the older hospital building while the staff and leadership continue to improve the quality of patient care provided at Evangelical Hospital-Khariar. 

Update: October 2017

The Evangelical Hospital, Khariar, is moving forward in obtaining new medical and safety equipment. In the last year, the hospital was able to purchase equipment for diagnostic tests and dialysis and finalize the installation of a fire alarm system and a generator.

More than 50% of the local population in Odisha over the age of 50 faces complications from kidney failure. This year, the hospital purchased a dialysis machine with water treatment capabilities. Dialysis is a process of removing impurities in blood, which is useful for treating kidney malfunction. The prevalence of kidney failure in this area is due to a genetic vulnerability to sickle cell disease and contaminated drinking water. The new dialysis machine at the hospital also treats water to provide purified drinking water for patients. Before Evangelical Hospital-Khariar acquired the dialysis machine, the nearest one was located over 100 miles away, leaving kidney failure patients with the burdens of funding long-distance travel. So far, more than 30 dialysis procedures have been performed at Evangelical Hospital-Khariar.

The new diagnostic machine is a Chemo Luminescence Immunoassay (CLIA), which can perform advanced blood tests. The hospital can now detect medical problems involving thyroid levels, hormones, vitamin deficiency or imbalance, and folic acid. Abnormalities in these levels are often indicative of life-threatening conditions. Having the means to get a quick diagnosis allows patients to receive treatment faster before their condition worsens. To date, over 1,000 blood tests have been conducted using it.

In addition to improving the scope of medical assistance provided to patients, a new noiseless generator has replaced one over 50 years old and produced a lot of disruptive noise. Furthermore, the hospital has installed new smoke detectors, a fire alarm system, and an emergency water pump designated for extinguishing fires. After a recent fire devastated a local hospital, a new law requires all hospitals to have fire safety equipment available and approved by the government. Hospital workers and patients are very pleased with the new system.

As the Evangelical Hospital, Khariar, evaluates its funding priorities for the upcoming years, it has identified several projects in addition to maintaining the highest level of care for its patients. These projects include obtaining computers for digitizing patient records, completing the installation of sewage treatment equipment, and building a new building to provide more space for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Each of the improvements identified by Evangelical Hospital, Khariar, will directly benefit patients. Streamlined recordkeeping becomes even more vital as the numbers of patients increase. Staff access to computers is necessary to improve the storage and retrieval of patient records. Additionally, if printers are purchased, receipts can be issued more professionally. Completing the installation of sewage treatment equipment would allow for environmentally friendly disposal of liquid waste

With the recent upsurge in Intensive Care cases, a new unit is necessary to accommodate the number of patients the hospital is receiving. Several patients need to receive care 24 hours a day, whether the patient needs oxygen support, a continuous infusion of medication, or to be treated in an area with powerful ventilation to prevent the spreading of contagious diseases. The equipment involved in these specialized cases of care requires considerable room. The current hospital building is over 60 years old and does not easily allow for installing new equipment along the walls or adding floor space. Evangelical Hospital, Khariar, is raising funds for the new Intensive Care Unit space. This endeavor will cost approximately $37,000, and additional funds will be raised to furnish and run the unit.

Evangelical Hospital, Khariar, aims to provide the best service possible to patients regardless of their economic background. The hospital staff expresses gratitude to Global Ministries for the prayers and donations that have enabled them to care for patients using modern medical technology and successfully carry out advanced procedures in rural India. Global Ministries welcomes donations for the continuation of this project and extends thanks to all those who have participated in updating hospital services and supporting building maintenance.

Update: August 2018

Located in Orissa, India, the Evangelical Hospital, Khariar, is the leading non-government healthcare institution in the state and provides the best medical care for each patient regardless of income. In addition to their medical work, the Church of North India provides a home for girls between the ages of five and 15. Currently, there are just over 50 girls living in the home. Girls living in this home either have parents who have passed away or come to the home from difficult circumstances.

In addition to supporting their education, the home staff prioritizes the children’s health. Every day, the girls receive vitamins and healthy meals, as well as soap, toothpaste, and mosquito repellent. Each week, the home staff in Khariar provides a number of spiritual activities, such as church services, Sunday school activities, and prayers led by staff and a few of the older girls. Each Saturday, a local pastor visits the home for a prayer service.

The Evangelical Hospital-Khariar also sees the importance of play for the girls, encouraging them to participate in games and sports. They participated in math games, musical chairs, jump rope, running races, high jump, long jump, and shot put. Recently, the home hosted a game day and gave out over 20 prizes.

In the future, the Evangelical Hospital-Khariar hopes to increase the capacity of the home to provide a space for 55-60 girls. They would like to improve the toilets and bathrooms for the girls, as well as additional rooms to prevent overcrowding, such as a dining room. The home is urgently looking for a new water source, as their current water sources are drying up. Global Ministries welcomes special gifts to support the girls’ home on the campus of the Evangelical Hospital, Khariar, in India, as they provide a loving home for young girls.

Update: November 2019

The Evangelical Hospital, Khariar, is a hospital located in the Nuapada District of Odisha, India. It is currently the leading non-government health institution in the State of Odisha and Eastern Chhattisgarh, and it provides the best medical care for each patient who enters the hospital, regardless of income. The hospital has been serving families in rural communities near Odisha since 1930. In addition to healthcare, the hospital conducts morning worship services, patient visitation, and counseling, as well as comforts the bereaved. The hospital treats patients and prevents diseases, but the hospital makes all attempts to share God’s love for the wholeness of each person. 

Earlier this year, Khariar Hospital celebrated opening a new Intensive Care Unit. With increased intensive care cases, the hospital identified a new Intensive Care Unit, which was necessary to accommodate the number of patients the hospital has been receiving. Whether patients required 24-hour care, oxygen support, continuous infusions of medicine, or placed in an area with powerful ventilation to prevent the spread of diseases, there was previously little space for this intensive care. The equipment involved in these specialized cases of care requires considerable room. Global Ministries is grateful for the special gifts received for medical care ministries of church partners in India and the special effort from the family and friends of Britt Reller, who made gifts in his memory for the new Intensive Care Unit at Khariar Hospital.

Update: August 2020

The number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase in India, with over 1.85 million cases confirmed by the virus across the country. There are no official testing facilities within 200 miles of the Evangelical Hospital, Khariar campus; the closest testing facility is in Bhubaneswar, a coastal city approximately 300 miles away. To improve access to testing, the Evangelical Hospital, Khariar applied to the Health and Family Welfare Department of Odisha to become registered as a testing center. With this approval, the hospital will have permission to perform testing for COVID-19 and antigen testing. The hospital would use antigen testing as a screening test.

While Evangelical Hospital, Khariar is in process of becoming a registered COVID-19 testing facility, the hospital is constructing a new lab for COVID-19 testing, purchasing Antigen testing equipment, and Trunet COVID-19 testing equipment, new oxygen supply systems for patients with respiratory problems, and air filtering equipment.  

Until now, the hospital has received cylinders of oxygen from Raipur and brought them back when needed. However, with many patients arriving with COVID-19 symptoms, the hospital needs to replenish the supply of oxygen more frequently, making it more practical to purchase a new oxygen generator.

Update: February 2021

In recent months, Evangelical Hospital – Khariar has added new equipment and a testing facility to better care for patients with COVID-19. The hospital has purchased an oxygen generator plant and supplies. This allows the hospital to produce oxygen for patients with difficulty breathing. The second project completed was an RTPCR Trunet testing facility. The Indian Council of Medical Research gave the hospital permission to offer COVID-19 antigen tests. For this facility, the Evangelical Hospital – Khariar constructed a separate outpatient unit for patients with respiratory illness. The next priority for the hospital is to develop an RTPCR unit once they have received the government permit.

Additionally, the hospital has opened a new Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) unit. The hospital can now offer hearing tests for community members and has received training on diagnosing deafness. Meeting the building requirements and equipping staff members with knowledge on fire safety at the hospital has been a priority for several years now. As a result, the hospital has received a license in fire safety recently.

Hospital administrators were the first members of the Nuapada district to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. This was advertised widely and shared with the community to reduce apprehension about receiving the vaccination. Despite the total lockdown and challenges due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Evangelical Hospital, Khariar, remained open and was able to expand its services to its patients this year.