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	August 2003				The new Women's and Children's Unit at Vellore     Baby being weighed at a village clinic run by Vellore
		Vellore - An Indian Hospital With a Difference by Dennis Humphrey
			The Christian Medical School and Hospital at Vellore had its beginnings just over 100 years ago when a young, single Christian doctor, Ida Scudder, was led by God to provide assistance for the women of South India in the days when men were not allowed to treat them. From the start the ethos of her work was profoundly Christian, holistic and wide ranging. She worked from a one-bed dispensary but travelled extensively in the local area, setting up roadside clinics and operating on make-shift tables in the villages. Through her determination and dedication the work has now expanded to become one of the largest and leading teaching and treating hospitals in India. Yet, despite all the high tech. facilities available, this is not its main focus. Rather it is to provide high quality holistic care not only to those within the hospital grounds but also to all those in the surrounding districts. Thus, there are still village clinics for health care and assistance with education, agriculture, income generating co-operatives etc. Support the spiritual needs The hospital has seven chaplains to support the spiritual needs of patients, staff and students. The doctors and nurses are expected to work, both during training and after graduation, in accordance with the ethos of the founder. The hospital sees more than 3000 out-patients a day and cares for 1700 in-patients. It receives no government funding, but by the dedicated and sacrificial service of its staff, together with wise administration, 77% of the in-patients receive some degree of subsidised treatment, whilst 17% are treated completely free. Curry Dinner However, the hospital is very dependent on overseas gifts for items of capital expenditure and the Tasmanian Friends of Vellore will again have their annual fund raising Curry Dinner on the 9th of August in support of this hospital. Phone Dennis or Delyth Humphrey 6224 1965 for tickets or if you would like a speaker to visit.