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“The loneliness of my house would’ve eaten me alive if I hadn’t found Kiran,” says Maya. As a child, Maya enjoyed playing in the homes of her already married older siblings. She never felt anxious about her own future, even as she reached marriageable age. Maya’s mother fell ill and Maya became her primary care-giver, living downstairs in her brother’s house. Maya’s mother despaired, knowing she was going to die before she could secure her daughter’s future. She begged her son’s wife to take care of Maya and find her a good husband. Once Maya’s mother died, however, Maya was lost in the shuffle as her married siblings moved on and raised their own children. Living below her brother, Maya was happy to be part of his family. Her brother’s wife was happy to have the extra help with housework and children. Maya enjoyed her role as aunt – the kids would all sleep in her house most nights! As the children started getting older, however, tension grew with her sister-in-law. Now that she didn’t need help in her own house, she began saying that Maya should marry and move out. Then Maya discovered that she had breast cancer. Even after all the years she’d spent caring for their children, her brothers deserted her. They forbid their children from going near her – worried that they would “catch” cancer by associating with her. Maya cycled from hospital to hospital alone. Even when she went for surgery, no one from her family accompanied her. Her sister-in- law, frustrated at the expense of Maya’s illness, told her, “You’re a worthless extra,” and Maya found it hard not to believe her. On a hospital visit, Maya met a woman associated with Kiran. A few days later, the woman came to visit Maya’s house and saw how alone she was. She also realized that Maya had become depressed and couldn’t think clearly enough to care for herself and deal with the effects of radiation. The woman visited regularly, helping Maya improve her health. She taught Maya how to deal with her illness and treatment. Eventually, Maya joined Kiran as a seamstress and found there the support she’d wished for from her own family. “Kiran is our home. These people understand us,” she says. Maya has also le

Apti + Suthiksh The morning I met Apti was a typical winter morning in Delhi, India. Nonchalant sunshine filtered down through layers of smog and left a hint of chill in the polluted city air. I followed Shalom staff as they navigated the labyrinth of alleyways leading to Apti’s residence. As we walked, the staff began to tell me Apti’s story. Originally from Nepal, Apti and her husband moved to Delhi in search of employment and a better future. Tragically though, Apti’s husband contracted HIV and, knowingly or unknowingly, passed the virus along toApti. From there the virus spread to three of their four children. The HIV virus proceeded to decimate Apti’s family; claiming the lives of her husband and two of their children. Already at rock bottom, Apti was somehow plunged deeper when she learned that she had cervical cancer – which had spread to other parts of her body. When Shalom staff first visited Apti she was living in horrid conditions, bed ridden-unable to walk because of painful leg swelling. During visits to her home, Shalom’s Palliative care nurses would massage her legs, and clean her tiny apartment, at times even cook food for her. Her nineteen-year-old son works long hours in order to provide for his mother and younger brother. With her elder son gone all day, A must rely on her six-year-old son Suthiksh to cook food, help her take medications and use the restroom. As we entered Apti’s tiny living space, I saw a curious head peaking up from a pile of blankets on the floor. This smiling youngster was Suthiksh, Apti’s third HIV+ child. I listened with building emotions as Shalom staff explained the kindness that Suthiksh shows towards his mother. On one occasion, he burned his hands while trying to heat bread for his mother. Suthiksh had tried to hold pieces of bread over an open flame. I was struck by the simple happiness and generosity of this little boy. We had brought a small package of crackers to give to Suthiksh. Upon opening them he immediately gave half of them back to me. How could I accept a gift from a child so poor? How could I refuse an offer so genuinely kind?

Imagine you are living in a poor isolated village in North India with a disabled child. You leave to work the fields in the morning leaving the child in a dark, windowless, smoky hut. The few rupees you earn will buy food for one meal for the whole family. Your child, lying immobilized on the floor, is tormented by the happy sounds of children playing outside. You and your family feel isolated, believing that your child is being punished for her sins in a past existence. This is her fate. This daily grind continues – without hope, without respite. One day a team of health workers from a nearby hospital comes to your village. They gather the village folk and tell them that they can help people with disabilities. They speak of a God that made them in His image and loves each girl and boy unconditionally. And then the team gets to work – first doing a survey of people with disabilities. Then they conduct an outpatient clinic to treat common ailments and refer those with serious illnesses to the mission hospital nearby. They bring equipment. Your child sits up for the first time in her life!

Vijay Anand of Makunda EHA Hospital was honoured to receive the Mother Teresa International Award 2019 for outstanding achievement and contribution to Medicine and Social Work from Justice Shyamal Sen, Former Governor of West Bengal and Chief Justice of Kolkata and Allahabad High Courts at the East Zone Cultural Centre in Kolkata on the 18th of January. The Award is given by a committee in memory of Mother Teresa under the All Indian Minority and Weaker Sections Council. The award is a recognition of the work at Makunda which is due to God's blessings and the hard work of many highly committed co-workers. #mothertheresa #india #hope #hospital #donate #goodcauses #healthcareforall #care #givingback #compassion #education #mission #makeadifference #lifechanging

People with mental illness in North India face many barriers. Community awareness is limited, psychiatrists are few and general health care practitioners are either unable or reluctant to offer treatment. Further, the stigma of mental illness accompanied by discrimination inhibits access to care. The Roshni (“bright shining light”) Project works to create awareness, provide education and facilitate access to appropriate health care. 37 years old Rajesh, a tailor by trade, lives with his wife and five children in a remote village in Bihar. His life fell apart one day when his land was unjustly seized. He became anxious and confused, stayed out late and developed insomnia. The family spent all their money to help him, even resorting to witchcraft. But it was of no use. Rajesh became mentally unstable, was no longer able to work and the family was rendered penniless. When the Roshni team heard about Rajesh, they took him to the Duncan hospital for treatment. He recovered and a year later Roshni provided him with a sewing machine. Now he earns between 400 and 500 rupees each day. The whole family is happy and feels cared for once again. . #india #hope #hospital #donate #goodcauses #healthcareforall #care #givingback #compassion #education #mission #makeadifference #lifechanging #shalom #peace #hope #joy #light #roshni #brightshininglight #Christmas

Shalom provides comprehensive and holistic care for those affected by HIV Aids. It provides both outpatient and inpatient care as well as home-based care. Shalom also aids widows and, through Kiran, fosters income generation schemes. Gita is tiny – 4 foot something. Born in a village in Bihar, she was married at 12. As is customary in some parts of India, when she turned 15, she began living with her husband’s family. Her husband, a barber, ran a shop in Delhi more than a thousand kilometers away. He travelled back and forth to Bihar and over the next 10 years, Gita had 4 children, one boy and three girls. Finally, at the age of 25, Gita and her children, moved to Delhi. Gita’s husband’s business was going well, but she noticed that he took a medicine every day. He wouldn’t tell her what it was for. Then one day he took her and the children to a hospital where they ran some tests following which Gita and the youngest daughter were started on medicines. Gita had no idea why she was taken to this clinic every month and why she had to take a pill every day. She summoned up enough courage to finally ask someone at the clinic. She was told that she had an illness called HIV, that there was no cure and that the symptoms could only be suppressed. The news shattered her. About three years ago, her husband’s health deteriorated and he died. Overnight, Gita became a widow with four children. Her life fell apart. To add to the burden of her own illness, she was now the sole bread winner. Her husband’s family disowned her. Though the barber shop legally belonged to her late husband, his brother forcefully took possession of it. Some days, the family went without food. Imagine the pain of a mother who could not even feed her children. Relief came through Shalom’s Home Based Care program. When her husband died, Shalom staff visited regularly to comfort and support the family. Then Gita herself took ill and was admitted to the Shalom hospital. Here she learned about the newly started Livelihood Initiative program called Kiran. She enrolled in the program and was given a sewing machine. (Story continued in comments)

Emmanuel Hospital Association (EHA) is a fellowship of Christian institutions offering consistent, compassionate care to vulnerable communities across India through the provision of health care, education, and development programs. Mission: To relieve suffering, promote holistic health, aid community development, and foster education among India’s poor and marginalized. Vision: Transformed and thriving individuals and communities across India. . . #india #hope #hospital #donate #goodcauses #healthcareforall #care #givingback #compassion #education #mission #makeadifference #lifechanging

Touching the heart of India's need. . . . #givingtuesday #india #hope #hospital #thanksgiving #donate #goodcauses #healthcareforall #care #givingback #compassion #education #mission #makeadifference #lifechanging

Emmanuel Hospital Association brings hope to the poor in India by providing health and care services to those in need. In situations of hopelessness, Hope is restored. Courage and dignity are restored. . . . . . #givingtuesday #india #hope #hospital #thanksgiving #donate #goodcauses #healthcareforall #care #givingback #compassion #education #mission #makeadifference #lifechanging

Projects

Anugrah Handicapped Childrens’ Project
Community Based Rehabilitation
Duncan Hospital, Raxaul
Equipment Fund
Good Samaritan Project
Christian Health Initiative for South Sudan (formally ICMDA)
Institute of Medical Missions
Madhipura Hospital
Neerekshe Project
Neonatal Survival and Training – NeST
Nursing School
Palliative Care Project
Prem Jyoti Community Project
Roshni Project
Shalom AIDS Project

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