Purulia Hospital Project

At the beginning of 2015 our church pledged to make a difference to
a Leprosy Mission hospital in West Bengal, India - our target: £19,758

Christmas 2015 we have reached our target!!
Well done everyone, and thank you!

Purulia Hospital is the only specialised Leprosy hospital in West Bengal, treating around 75,000 people a year and an estimated 100,000 more through its community health programmes. Around 12% of all new leprosy treated cases at Purulia are children. The hospital specialises in leprosy treatment and surgery to correct disabilities, opthalmology, dermatology, gynaecology, orthopaedics and general surgical proceedures.
The majority of patients come from the most vulnerable sections of society including women, children, people with disabilities and those living in poverty.

West Bengal is a drought prone area with a high dependency on farming, the main occupation. It has a population of around 2,128.000 with around 375,000 living below the poverty line.

High Leprosy Rates

The area has one of the highest endemic leprosy rates in India and so services which are well staffed and resourced are desparately needed. Private medical care is expensive and inaccessible to people living in poverty and many doctors in the government and private services refuse to treat patients with leprosy because of the stigma attached to the disease.
 

Medical Help and Support

West Bengal has only one other district hospital which doesn't provide any follow-up care for people affected by leprosy. This means that patients with disabilities, ulcers or leprosy reaction problems are sent away without any support or practical help. Delayed or inadequate treatment results in a poor quality of life for those struggling to recover from a diagnosis of leprosy.

Purulia is the only hospital which provides reconstructive surgery for leprosy related disabilities. It is the only place where people can get advice and support on self-care techniques or receive special customised footwear and mobility aids to further protect desensitised and damaged limbs.

 

Patients are now at risk - through leaking roofs, crumbling walls, poor staff accommodation making it impossible to retain good staffing levels.

• Our financial giving will ensure that:
• Roofing is repaired, treated and made water-tight
• Walls are replastered and repainted
• Safe hygene levels are restored to the kitchen and physiotherepy rooms
• Doors, windows and woodwork is repainted and weatherproofed
• The 25 year-old X-Ray room is renovated and modernised with lead sheeting added to the walls

So Much Good on So Few Resources

Staff who work there do so for the love of those with leprosy. If they chose to work in another hospital they would be better paid and work shorter hours. By renovating their quarters as well as the building we will show them the same loving care that they show their patients every day.

If you would like to give to this project ask about local fundraising events you can support and visit the Leprosy Mission Stall at the Market Place in Sandy on Friday mornings.

Thank You!