Physical Health India Project #28831

Deliver disability care to 25000-rural Bangalore

by Bangalore Baptist Hospital Society

Project Report | Mar 29, 2021
Simple joys of life, because of you!

By Carolin George | Head, Community Health Division

Pavitra enjoying her daily outing

Dear friends,

Greetings from Bangalore Baptist Hospital.

Thank you for your continued support to better the lives of people with disabilities. It's nice indeed what we can achieve together even with our boundaries and distances.

A few people with disabilities living in Bangalore Rural villages are now living new lives—full of promise and possibilities—because of your generosity and caring support. Your donation infused hope, renewed dignity, and provided freedom. Thank you.

For example, your gift relieved Kiran from carrying his older sister, Pavitra, to get fresh air and strengthened Kumari to take a bold step to run a small shop to take care of her daughter after her husband's death. These two stories are a record of just some of the many beautiful stories made possible through partnership.

Simple joys of life

For Pavitra, born with polio defects and her brother Kiran, their aspirations are not televisions or refrigerators but simple joys in life. And when that joy comes in any form, it sits within you and affects how you perceive, interpret and experience the world. Pavitra, who had no option but to remain inside her house, a stroll on her wheelchair brought in simple joy. Kiran watched in awe when the breeze gently touched his sister's face. "My sister enjoyed sitting under the tree. When the leaves flutter for the breeze, I could see a glint in her eyes. Thank you for the wheelchair and the modified toilet. Now, I can bring her every day out. Simple joy, such as being out, is all that Pavitra can have in her life. And the modified toilet makes her rough life smooth," said a teary-eyed Kiran.

Pavitra and Kiran lost their mother recently. Kiran, her brother, is her close companion now. Oblivious to anything in her life, even her mother's death doesn't seem to disturb Pavitra. "I can't bear anyone being cross with Pavitra. As long as she lives, she should be happy, and that's the reason why I am not even keen to get married," signs off the loving brother.

The gift of a lifetime

A widow in a small village in Rural Bangalore confidently smiles. She is thinking about the future of her 9-year-old daughter. She wants her daughter to have opportunities that she didn't have. Thanks to you, she has ventured to run the small convenience stall that her husband owned. Disabled by an unfortunate accident, Kumari has difficulty in walking and sitting. Gentle steps with the support of a walking stick are all she could do. She was troubled and worried after the death of her husband about her daughter. When we offered a loan to restart the shop, she welcomed the idea. Now, with the income she generates, she's confident that she could educate her daughter. "I hope one day, my daughter will earn her degree. Thank you for opening this possibility," she gratefully says.

Please share our report with your friends and family members who may get inspired to bring smiles to people like Pavitra, Kiran and Kumari.

Gratefully.

Carolin George

Pavitra with her brother, Kiran

Links:

Permalink

Nov 30, 2020
Comfort and dignity to people with disability

By Dr Carolin George | Head, Community Health Division

Anjinamma now takes care of her hens

Dear donors,

Greetings from Bangalore Baptist Hospital.

Thank you for your continued support.

We continue to assess the needs of people with disability, distributing assistive devices, building modified toilets and supporting children with learning disabilities. We are touched that through our ongoing programmes, we can reach out to our community amidst the pandemic. The experience of working through this pandemic fueled a passion within us to push our mission even further to create lasting changes for people with disability.

Anjinamma is one of them.

42-year old Anjinamma was devastated when she lost one of her legs in a car accident. From then onwards, it has been an uphill task for Anjinamma. "We had an Indian toilet, and I just couldn't use it," she recalled. Rationing her intake of water or food when her husband was at work seemed the only solution for her. "Seeing my plight, my husband modified a chair as a commode. It wasn't hygienic, "but we were helpless," she said.

Seeing the dire need of people such as Anjinamma, we helped her to build a modified toilet at a highly subsidised price.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the finished toilet,” said Anjinamma.

From August to October 2020, we constructed one modified toilet and supported two commode chairs providing access to improved sanitation to people with disability. . “This new toilet has really made a difference in our lives and is a real source of joy,” said Anjinamma. This year, of all years, we've seen first-hand the importance of safe sanitation. Echoing our thoughts, Anjinamma says, “Many people are now waiting their turn to build a toilet."

Additionally, we also provided prosthesis, AFO and cockup splint to two persons.

Alongside supporting adults, we provided special education, speech, language and behaviour therapy to children.

We want to thank you for your generosity, your resiliency, your determination to make the lives of people with a disability meaningful.

We hope you will continue to support and share our work with your friends and family.

With gratitude,

Carolin George

Permalink

Aug 3, 2020
Hope and stability to people with disability

By Dr Carolin George | Head, Community Health Division

Sanjanna enjoying colours and having fun

Dear friends,

Greetings from Bangalore Baptist Hospital.

Your support helped us bring joy, hope and stability to people and children with disability. Thank you!

News about how we are progressing during the pandemic:

Set up our hospital (Bangalore Baptist Hospital) for caring for sick COVID-19 patients.
Procured vital supplies of masks, gowns, and face shields.
Teach on social distancing, the importance of hand and face washing, and sharing information to help the community members in detecting someone who needs COVID testing.
Reached the poor in remote villages with dry rations and essential medicines.
Providing e-consultations because we do not want them to travel unnecessarily. Our healthcare workers deliver medications at their doorstep.

We are delighted that the team has been able to support the essential work. It is indeed a crisis considering the vulnerable population that we support. However, we hold on to HOPE that friends such as you will offer a helping hand.

Here are our stories of change which you helped us bring. Thank you!

Solace for Murthy

37-year old Murthy who is polio affected by birth, is all smiles today. He has a reason for it. Murthy looks at his air bed as if it's his last possession on earth. For he suffered sleeping on a tattered mat with his bed sores. For him, this comfort is the most significant relief and blessing.

With his eyes a bit teary, he paused, and folded his hands that said, "Thank you for this wonderful gift.".

Tuning life beautifully

Eleven years back, Narasimanaidu's life was beautifully tuned just as how he would make melodious and graceful veena - (a musical instrument). "Veena making is an art.... and I had mastered. That was my livelihood until the stroke struck me and left my entire left side paralysed. Now my livelihood is robbed, and what do I do?" he questioned depressingly. Besides, he found it extremely difficult to move around without a wheelchair.

"I believe in worshipping the Sun in the morning, and I missed doing so after my stroke. With a wheelchair given by you, I am now back again worshipping the Sun. Thank you. The wheelchair is fitted with a commode, and that's so helpful," exclaimed Narasimanaidu, humming one of his favourite ragas.

Keeping children with disability active

We have reached out to the parents of children through Whatsapp to guide them on simple sensory activities and speech therapies. With the help of parents, these special children can start learning again. To keep the mothers engaged, we have shared videos and photos to make masks at home.

You can join us in restoring hope to people with disabilities in some of the villages that we work. They are waiting. Your support is key to reaching more people in the future, especially during this pandemic.

Thank you for partnering with us in this critical mission of healing the sick.

Our wishes for you to stay safe.

Gratefully,

Carolin George

Raksha has fun in trying different masks

Mother's involvement

Murthy ready for a peaceful sleep on his airbed

Narasimhanaidu humming his favourite ragas

Permalink

‹ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.