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The mother and child health clinic

a new baby born at the clinic This clinic, aimed specifically at women of child-bearing age and pre-school children, opened in July 1999 with a three-year grant from the NLCB (National Lottery Charities Board) of England. Over the three years of the grant, a total of 4939 women of reproductive age have been treated at the clinic as well as 860 expectant mothers, 1154 pre-school children and 3261 primary school children. During that time, 90% capacity was achieved. Eight primary schools and one high school in the area were visited and check-ups on all students carried out.

In the last four years, a number of successful Health Fairs have been held. People come from all the surrounding villages to receive free advice and medicine from doctors who donate their services for two days.

The project also holds free eye camps whenever funds are available. In March 2005, an unexpected donation of £201 made it possible to hold an eye camp after a gap of two years. Over 400 villagers came to have their eyes examined. Everyone received advice, many were given medicines and 32 were selected for cataract operations. These were held in the community hospital in Bilari where the government eye specialist from Moradabad District Hospital removed the cataracts. In November, one of our staunchest supporters donated £300 for another eye camp. This time over 800 villagers came and 53 were selected for cataract operations. The extra hundred pounds made it possible to give free after-care medicines to all those who were operated on. The project brought them back to Amarpurkashi for two days’ convalescence and the canteen staff made special soft foods for them while the post-graduate students from the college looked after all their needs.

The clinic regularly attracts the very poorest of the rural population because of its nominal charges, sympathetic treatment and generous subsidies for those below the poverty line who can not manage even the most nominal fees. The only problem encountered over the term of the grant was in recruiting a qualified female doctor to work in the clinic and visit neighbouring villages. Qualified doctors and especially women do not want to work in a village and particularly do not wish actually to go into the villages to examine and treat women. However, the project is working hard to find someone suitable with the right motivation and hopes to appoint a doctor soon. A competitive salary is offered together with free accommodation and other facilities.

Meanwhile, the clinic is functioning well as a centre for deliveries and terminations. A very experienced midwife, her assistant and a compounder comprise the current staff there.

Before 1985 no village women used any formal method of contraception. By 2003 over 10% of women in the 12 project villages had been sterilized and a number were on the pill.

Information for Supporters

The charity is currently appealing for funds to build a new improved clinic which will allow the work of the health centre to extend into new areas. See the health care fund appeal.

Under the IVCS volunteering scheme, you can come and see this health clinic in rural India, and learn more about international development projects.