“Great is your faithfulness” Lam 3:23
BETHESDA (LEPROSY) HOSPITAL NARSAPUR, W.G. DIST, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA – 534275 Phone: +918814 274618, 278179
Email:
[email protected]
_______________________________________________________________ Annual Report 2013
“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength”. Philippians 4:13
In God’s goodness Bethesda Hospital completed 90 years of fruitful service in 2013. When we look back over the years, we wonder and marvel at how God accomplished His will and purpose in this ministry of healing of body and soul of thousands of patients. As ever we have several examples to quote about the Lord’s absolute faithfulness to Bethesda in the past year. We had great joy when patients were saved. At times we were confronted by Goliaths but the Lord fought our battle. There were times when we felt so weak to face the uphill task. The Lord strengthened us and stood by our side encouraging us to march forward in faith. He took our hand into His and led us in the level paths.
Bethesda Leprosy Hospital had a humble beginning. Mr. John Boyd, missionary from U.K started this institution in 1923 with a vision and calling to serve leprosy patients. He did not have the resources or the support to begin this work. In faith he erected a shed in a plot of land he acquired and started a home for lepers with 9 beds. Not having much medical knowledge, he did his best to alleviate the suffering of patients by washing their infected wounds and providing the possible care. He served the patients with great commitment in his short stint and God honoured his work for Him. In due course the hospital has grown to be one of the largest hospitals accommodating about 500 leprosy patients under the Godly leadership of our pioneering missionaries -‐ Dr C Pring, Miss Hampton, Dr & Mrs Edward Short, Dr & Mrs. Ben Walkey, Miss Winnifred Osborne, Miss Sheila Waite and other men and women mainly from U.K who served the hospital sacrificially. When all the missionaries left, the mantle fell on Mr. K.Satyanarayana to take up the responsibility of the hospital. He and his wife prayerfully led the work in faith. Built on spiritual foundation Bethesda continues to be a blessing to hundreds of patients and children after 90 years of good service. Bethesda continues to stand for its name.
MEDICAL MINISTRY
Leprosy continues to be a public health problem in India though it was declared as eliminated in 2006. It is true that Multidrug treatment (MDT) has cured large number of leprosy cases. The increase in the number of new cases in the recent times is a matter of concern. Bethesda continues to treat new patients with Multi drug treatment. Government used to supply these drugs in blister packs free of charge before 2006 but now we are buying these drugs. The hospital continues to be a referral hospital for specialist leprosy services like reconstructive operations, ulcer care, eye care, treatment of reactions and neuritis and HIV/AIDS care. Presently the hospital has 80 beds to provide inpatient care for leprosy and AIDS patients.
My name is Bangarayya. I came to Bethesda Hospital for the first time in 1972 with symptoms of leprosy all over my body. I was admitted into the hospital by Dr Short and I stayed for two years. When my disease regressed I went back home and continued my treatment as an outpatient for many years. In 2010 my disease relapsed since I did not use Multidrug treatment. I was in a bad shape. There were nodules all over my body which were broken and infected. Bethesda took me in again with stretched out hands and cared for me with love. I received Multidrug therapy and my wounds on the sole of feet also cured in due course. Soon I will go back to my people to live at home. I am so grateful to Bethesda. I experienced love of Christ in action at this place
Bethesda leprosy Hospital has a total case load of over 6,000 people living with HIV. About 55% of these are women. Most of them are from poorer strata and live by working as daily wage workers. Financial strength of people living with HIV takes a major setback once the person starts to fall sick. Other reason adding to their predicament is the stigma attached to this disease. Education to their children, healthy nutrition and other family responsibilities are at stake when they lose their livelihood. With inadequate income and hard pressed by their circumstances they neglect regular treatment and spoil their health.
I am Kalpana. I got married when I was 16 years old. After two years my husband left me without any reason. My mother, a widow then, worked hard to help me to complete ‘health worker course’ to stand on my feet. I started working in a small hospital and was happy that I was able to take care of my mother too. After a few years I came to know that my husband died of some unknown reason. Shortly I too fell sick. Blood tests revealed that I was harbouring HIV in my body. I was shattered. I wanted to commit suicide. But my mother’s love sustained me. I came to Bethesda for treatment. I was so touched by the love and care I received here. Since that time I frequently come to this hospital for treatment. I had blood transfusions recently. Bethesda is providing me with monthly provisions for my sustenance. Though I am weak physically I
am r ejoicing in the Lord in my spirit.
Though it is sad situation Bethesda received 366 new HIV cases this year. Government has integrated HIV/AIDS services into government health services and stopped supporting the non-‐governmental organizations like Bethesda in caring for the AIDS patients. Because of the financial constraints, Bethesda started charging patients towards the cost of medicines on a daily basis. Many pharmaceutical companies supply us drugs at 30% less cost than the market price. We provide medicines to the patients at the same cost. About 50% of patients are paying wilfully. To those who cannot afford Bethesda continue to provide free treatment. Dr Mahesh is doing his best to care for these patients.
Bethesda continues to provide maternity services to HIV women. Dr Reenu Koshy is doing an excellent work in providing these services. 24 babies were born at the hospital this year. All the infants were under our follow up. The mothers and infants receive regular treatment. Mothers were encouraged to breast feed their babies. The babies are tested periodically for any infection until they attain 18 months age. A trained counsellor provides all the help to these mothers. Asha Foundation in Bangalore is providing us with the technical help and needed drugs for this project. We deeply appreciate their support. A poor women and her husband came to Bethesda in advanced labour seeking help. She delivered twin babies. The infants were very much underweight and in distress. The couple did not have any money to take the babies to a pediatrician. Bethesda took the initiative to save the babies. The staff took turns to care for them. When they were strong enough to be discharged the parents took them home. When they were brought back after three months they were in good health and looked so cute. The 72 HIV families on Home based Care programme continue to be in better health receiving good care and nutrition. Though the rates of food commodities have increased due to high rates of inflation, God enabled Bethesda to continue providing the nutritional support to these 72 families apart from free medical care. Many of them cannot afford to come to Bethesda even to receive these provisions hence the hospital also provides them travel costs. We praise God for this very encouraging programme and for His provision.
HIV Women Empowerment Project I am Savithri. I stay in a thatched shed with 2 grown-‐ up daughters. I lost my husband to HIV/AIDS while my children were very small. I also carry the deadly virus. Though discouraged and downhearted to the core in the beginning, I determined to live for my daughters and their future. Bethesda provided ration for my sustenance and medicines for upholding my health. They also supported me to setup a petty shop for empowering me economically. I thank God for their love and His faithfulness to me all these years.
The idea of empowering a few poor women with HIV came when Dr &Dr (Mrs.) Kunjappan, friends of Bethesda challenged us. Their friend
Mr. Sam Koshy came forward to fund this project. Thus 15 poor women were chosen to help them to start a petty business or rear goats or buffalos to earn livelihood. Also provision was made to help two poor girls from Orissa to study nursing in Narsapur Christian Hospital. These girls and their families were displaced when riots broke out on Christians in Orissa state a few years ago. Also car was provided to teach our children ‘driving lessons’ and help them to obtain driving licence thus helping them to have occupation when they leave us. This project is proving very useful to all the beneficiaries and we can make out the difference in their lives since this help was given to them. We are deeply grateful Mr Sam Koshy and Drs. Kunjappan and Vimala John for their support in this project. CHILDREN MINISTRY George Muller Home for HIV Children From a family where I lost motherly love, I am here enjoying the affection and tasting the love from everyone and in all aspects. I am Pushpalatha; perhaps the youngest girl in George Muller Home. I came from small village about 30 miles from here. I hardly recollect my mother’s face as I lost her while I was only 2 years old. My father married again and all I remember and know of him is his love for my step-‐brother and he sending me to my grandparents to live with them. They are the only people who took care of me. They visit me at the hostel and take me home during holidays. After coming here Deprived of parental love from childhood I felt very happy when people here started showing me boundless love and affection. It made me forget my home. I am studying 3rd class now. The facilities for me at George Muller Home, my schooling and the health care are enabling many children like me have a new beginning in life.
52 of the children like Pushpalatha are staying with us at George Muller Home for HIV AIDS Children. Some of them are so small that they have a little or even no knowledge as to why they are in this special home. The Lord in His goodness has enabled us to provide all the 52children regular medication, schooling and training during the year. These children are being nursed with special care such that they are fit for the world now and the heavenly world to come. A Vocational training centre was started for the children studying class 8th and above in the name of Late Dr. C. R. Prabhakar with the help of Mrs. M. Prabhakar and her family. Prabhakar Vocational training started in February 2013 with Tailoring and Computer education as primary trades for children. The last 11 months have been very productive for the children as many of them are now proficient in tailoring and computer education. Driving and Photography are the other trades that will be introduced shortly for children completing 10th standard. We are so glad to report that ten young people from George Muller Home trusted in the Lord and were baptized on 29th September. Our hearts were filled with great joy and gratitude to the Lord for the work of the Holy Spirit in their little hearts.
School
Bethesda special upper primary school has special status as it cater to the educational needs of children having leprosy and AIDS and children from families affected by these diseases. It is one of the oldest schools in the state started in 1935. We have six teachers and they are fine Christians serving the Lord faithfully. The present strength of the school is 109.
Beautiful Family Project I am Joseph. As a 6 year old boy I stepped into the gates of Bethesda accompanied by my parents and elder sister. I was very much disinclined to stay here in the campus despite of my mother’s assurance that I will have the best possible life which they cannot give me at my home. After a few days I slowly started experiencing the warmth of the people around me. The activity schedule, schooling, discipline and emphasis on spiritual growth caught me up right from my childhood. Though my mothers’ deteriorating health was a cause of concern yet I did not want to go home. I lost my mother to AIDS while I was at an age when I needed motherly love the most. Life seemed terrible and empty with her loss. I can never forget the love and care I received in those days from the staff. The encouragement from elders, co-‐hostellers brought me back. My father married again. He was not infected by HIV. He married a widow. I am writing 10th exams this year. I aim to become a teacher one day. The staff are so supportive and striving to bring all of our dreams come true.
Children like Joseph living in our hostels have many touching experiences to share. We have 97 boys and girls from Leprosy and AIDS affected families residing in hostels. Seven girls are in training, doing nursing and Lab technician courses. Ravi Kumar who was student here was sent to Hand and Leprosy Physiotherapy course to a premier training institute in South India and he is back with us serving Bethesda as Physiotherapy technician with a lot of zest. He also came to know the Lord and was baptized. Bethesda children grow up in a serene and Godly atmosphere, away from the hustle and bustle of the world outside and enjoy the love of God in all aspects. Our aim is to see that every child that comes to us in need should not be deprived of good education and good future. We want them to grow in the fear and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Bethesda Assembly
Bethesda Assembly and the hospital share a common vision and mission. The assembly is actively involved in the lives of its members as well as the patients who come to the hospital. The church prays with burden for the salvation of patients, children and shares the Good News with them. All the sermons in the church can be heard in the wards through public address system. It continues its outreach ministry, Sunday school, ministry among women and run by the elders basing on the strong Biblical principles. The national workers supported by Bethesda assembly are doing excellent work for the Lord. We visited them at regular intervals to encourage them and to have fellowship. Sixteen precious souls were won for the Lord and added to Bethesda assembly this year. We had Missionary Fellowship Meetings during 26th to 28th September and all in Bethesda Assembly, staff and families, and the eight evangelists and about 125
believers from the assemblies supported by Bethesda reaped great blessings. Bro Bill Sakoulas and Bro Jeff Gehrmann from Australia shared the Word of God (Bro Bill is the son in–law of late Mr Collin Tilsley, founder of GLO ministries). God’s Faithfulness
A severe cyclonic storm damaged crops in our paddy fields and power lines on the campus were broken during November. This happens now and then during rainy season. We thought how nice it would be if power cables were laid underground to avoid this. We started praying asking the Lord for provision of needed funds. After a few days, a dear sister sent us a mail saying she had some amount kept aside to help the hospital. When we shared this need with her she gladly accepted. When we received the amount, it was more than what we imagined and asked for. This is only one example to illustrate God’s faithfulness to Bethesda. Our gratitude
This report is incomplete if we do not express our gratitude to our dear friends in Echoes of Service, Lord’s Work Trust, George Muller Charitable Trust, Interlink, Gospel Missions of India, Dips’n Trust, Dr Short Charitable Trust, Westcroft Trust, India Medical Mission Assistance Inc., to name some, and many others who supported the work of the hospital so faithfully. Many churches from U.K and U.S.A supported this ministry with prayer and generous donations. We are very grateful to them. We want to thank our Management Committee for their support and guidance in running the hospital. Very special thanks to Mrs M. Prabhakar for her valuable contributions to the child care projects of the hospital through Church of United Brethren. We express our gratitude to Mr. T. Rajan General Secretary of Stewards Association in India for his guidance and help. A word of deep appreciation to all my colleagues in the hospital for their dedication to work and their sacrificial service to the patients. A word of special thanks to our young Business Manager, Mr Rajesh Samson who worked really hard to manage the day to day affairs of the hospital. Well dear ones in the Lord, we have no sufficient words to express our deep gratitude to each one of you for your sacrificial contributions, encouraging letters and e-‐mails, earnest prayers and parcels of bandages and clothing. The Sovereign Lord will reward you and bless you. As you pray for us we too very specially uphold you in prayer. Yours in His faithful service
V. PAUL RAJU
