Over the past 2 years , projects at St. Mary`s Mission Hospital have concentrated on  much-needed improvements to the Outpatient Clinic including roof repairs, painting, bathrooms, windows  and furnishings.  Last year a second new fully equipped and air conditioned operating room was completed in time for the January 2013 Free Surgical Camp during which time the Team saw over 900 patients  in consultation and performed over 250 free operations. Patients are seen without regard to religious affiliation.

In addition to the new OR, construction of a doctors-nurses conference room, two modern toilets, and refurbishing of the Sterile Preparation Area were completed. Many important equipment additions rounded out these projects which were completed at a cost of $28,600.

Our focus has now turned to the four hospital patient wards with a total of about 50 beds and all in some stage of major disrepair with leaking roofs, primitive lighting, rusting beds and decaying mattresses, old and limited toilet facilities and the list goes on.

We have budgeted approximately $55,000 to make a significant dent in the Phase 1 reconstruction which we hope to complete in time for the January 2014 Free Surgical Camp. Renovations will include: major roof replacement, ceiling repair, new lighting, removal of 6 small dilapidated structures, 6 new toilet facilities with showers, new beds and mattresses, bedside tables, movable patient privacy screens, painting, and floor repair and adequate nursing stations.  If you would like to contribute to this project please donate.

One small ward will be converted into a Post Operative Care unit with A/C, special hospital beds, monitors and oxygen. Facilities for newborns will be provided. Upon our arrival, we will assess the need for additional renovations and equipment.

Phase 2 will be addressed next year at which time we will consider the construction of a Women’s Health Center to complement our existing Outpatient Clinic which will then be converted to laboratory, x-ray , patient records and administrative space.

We continue to focus on full-time staff development and just last week hired a new full-time family physician who works alongside the full-time pediatrician. Part-time specialty clinics are still active but the search for a full-time Obstetrician-gynecologist has been unsuccessful thus far. It has become apparent that the poor state of the hospital facility has discouraged some who have come to visit and this has added impetus to our reconstruction efforts. The search will continue and in the mean time we will encourage local private physicians to increase their utilization of the Clinic and the hospital. Some have already shown interest by serving on the long range planning committee and by participating in a recent Cardiology Camp. The Bishop of the Diocese has appointed a 50 member committee to help increase interest and raise funds for hospital development through local church outreach.

Additional activities and projects supported by Friends Of Christ In India through the Indian Medical Projects Fund include the Village Clinics, staff salary support and the overhead expenses for the Free Surgical Camp which include interpreters, room and board, in-country transportation and hospital charges. Because of the many pounds of donated medical-surgical supplies and donated professional help we are still able to perform surgery for about $40 per operation.

On January 10, 2014 our Team including 3 general surgeons, 1 urologist, 3 anesthesiologists, 1 senior anesthesia resident, 1 internist, 1 interventional radiologist, 1 Indian general surgical resident. 1 Indian senior medical student and several key lay persons will begin the 2014 Free Surgical Camp.

Our efforts are rewarded by the results attained in caring for the poor and disadvantaged and by the generosity of our donors without whom we could accomplish very little.

Respectfully Submitted,
George Longstreth MD, FACS, Director, FSC
Joe Bardenheier MD, FACS
Chief of Surgical Services, FSC