T.H.I.

S EDITION

Happiness to T.H.I.S Adopted village children:- Under This project, their life has brought drastic changes in the 3
adopted villages. They are very fit and tidy in their clothing and well behaved, it calls for a massive change in the
Children. T.H.I.S Project for children is ad hoc in approach; they don’t treat the causes of poverty. Instead, they just
focus on arranging a few facilities that treat deprivations in short term. So, a child gets nutrition supplements, Medical
Facilities, Counselling, Clothes, Footwear, Books, and Bags & Stationery. There is not much focus on child poverty even
though T.H.I.S Project goal revolve around the welfare and well-being of children. It means children are developed in
character, Education, Behaviour, than adults. Ideally, this assessment shows that T.H.I.S Project targeted at children to
show the desired results. In adopted villages, a child is protected with various development programmes from conception
to adulthood. Most of these programmes aim to lessen malnutrition and protect from Sickness. T.H.I.S Project has not
failed then in bringing chance in the Children. And in all likelihood, as they are from marginalised Scheduled Caste and
Tribe groups. Dr Sunder Rao and Dr Valli has brought little packs of cheer to the adopted villages children by creating
new joy bringing smiles to the faces with T.H.I.S Project Programmes.

T.H.I.S. Celebrates Christmas

with Adopted village Children
THIS project celebrated by cutting Christmas cake with
50 underprivileged Children and vulnerable children
with Christmas cake on occasion of Christmas season.
This project gave a meaningful Christmas celebration
and gave the children which don't have the possibility to
celebrate Christmas with their families, a chance of a
happy and meaningful Christmas. This project will
hopefully spark their hope again and give them a happy
and meaningful memory that they can carry with them
through their lives.

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 Philadelphia Leprosy Hospital Christmas Celebrations with Patients
We have celebrated Christmas with the Leprosy victims, who were disowned by their own families and
relatives and treated as outcasts and sent away from their villages by the society. The Philadelphia Community
Hospital in Salur Celebrated Christmas for a week with Feast & gifts, more important we gave them hope to
live and confidence that God is taking care of them. TLM is helping these unfortunate Leprosy patients with
free medical care, Stay and Rehabilitation support when they need. Every year, we celebrate Christmas and give
them Joy and Happiness clothing. This year also we started our Christmas programmes with the Leprosy
patients in our Hospital The patients were very grateful to The Philadelphia Community Hospital for helping
them for the past more than 115 years.

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 CHRISTMAS CELEBRATED AROUND HOSPITAL CAMPUS CHURCHES

Mrs. Anupama Philip from Bangalore extends her help towards 4yrs boy.

On 30th December our Medical outreach team started to pedda chipuruvalsa for the child clinic – Diabetic (T.H.I.S, Project),
but something made them change their mind and changed their destination to Chinna Cheepuruvalasa instead of the former
location which they decide to visit after they were done here. During the child clinic our nurse and Programme Manager has
identifies a 4yrs old boy suffering with a wound on his left hand palm since a month and was not in a position to seek medical
help due to poverty and ignorance. They did not have money to travel 15 kms away for treatment in Government Hospital.
Philadelphia community hospital team has checked his and found out that it was untreated insect bite which turned septic
purulent with the skin sloughing away. If left untreated he would end up septicaemia with or loose his palm till his wrist. The
basic first aid of cleaning the area also was not done. The 4yrs old boy name Churu Uday was with the neighbour as the parent
went to the forest to collect firewood. Medical outreach teams heart went out to the four years little boy Uday and rushed
him to the Philadelphia community Hospital for treatment and was examined by Dr Puspakanthi Pal, MD, who suggested
dressings medication till it heals which would take about a month. Initial dressing was done and was recalled everyday and
medicines given. Mrs Anupama Philip from Bangalore was informed about this poor Churu Uday and she generously came
forward to bear his medical expense and Travel. The Parent next day visited the hospital and thanked the Donor and the
Philadelphia community Hospital for showing king toward the below poverty and marginalised community.

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 Cataract top cause of Blindness in India, finds survey
The condition is responsible for 6 6.2 p er c ent of blindness cas es in peop l e above 5 0, accor ding to the National
Blindness and Visual Impairm ent Survey . Catara ct is t he leading caus e of blindness in peop le above 5 0 yea rs,
according to the National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey India 2015 -19. The condition is behind 66.2 per
cent blindness c ases, 80. 7 per c ent seve re visual impairment cases and 70.2 per cent moder at e visual impairment
cases in the ag e group. And these could hav e been avoided — around 93 per c ent of blindness c ase of al l the
avoidable caus es, more than ha lf w er e tre atab l e, found the survey.

Catar act- re lat ed surgic al complic ations was the second -hig hest c ausab le f actor for blindness wit h 7.2 per cent
cases in people above 5 0 years, show ed t he survey. Other caus es included infectious and non -infectious co rneal
opacity (scar ring of cornea), glaucoma and apha kia ( abs enc e of lens in the eye). Also, refra ctive er rors (nea r or far
sightedness) we re found to be r esponsibl e for 70.6 p er cas es of ea rly visual impairment. The coverag e of c ata rac t
surgery among blin ds w as 9 3.2 p er cent in men and 91. 9 p er cent in women aged above 5 0, found the survey. An
ear lier res ea rc h ha d al so pointed out several rea sons why women are 6 9 per c ent more at ris k of developing
cata rac t. Among the vi s ua l l y impaired, this coverag e was 7 4 per cent .

Cost was t he bigg est bar rie r in ac ces sing a c ata ra ct sur gery. It was the reason for 22.1 p er cent blindness c ases
and lac k of awa ren ess wa s be hind 18.4 p er cent c ases, w ho did not feel any need of the surgery, accor ding to the
repor t. Catar acts a re one of the ma jor caus es of vision impairment in India and can be easily pr evented with a ccess
to doctors and me dica l tr ea tm ent. In the tr eatment of ca tar acts, t he averag e exp ense may range from Rs. 15,0 00 to
Rs. 35,000 in India.

India is host to the largest population of blind people in the world, with over 20 million people affected by
blindness due to cataracts. According to the National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey India, from
2015 to 2019, cataracts have been the leading cause of blindness in people above 50 years of age.

Cataract is the First biggest Cause of Blindness in India

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Mr. Shyamal Rao, 25 year old man, who is a Dhobi by Occupation lives in Salur, in Vizianagaram District.
He is from a Below Poverty who could not afford his livelihood due to Cataract. It was difficult for him to
work so the father-in-law is supporting in providing provisions. Mr Shyamal Rao’s wife is 4 months
pregnant so she is not able to contribute financially. As the days passing he is not able to see anything.
He got fully blind and suffered and cried that he could not get the cataract surgery due to his financial
status. One day Mrs Shyamal brought him to Philadelphia community for check-up Mr Shyamal rao has
Pain, Redness and Diminution of Vision in Left Eye since 3 months. He met Dr Sucharitha David examined After Surgery
both eyes and found to have a Cataract which is secondary to a rare disease named Fuch's heterochromic
iridocyclitis so it was a complicated cataract in the Left Eye. His wife cried and said that they have been
going to many hospitals and return back without getting surgery as they couldn’t afford the cost. Mr
Shyamal Rao needed some medical treatment followed by a cataract surgery which he could not afford.
He has no parents and his own brother went to a far off place for work. Seeing his condition we shared
about him over the phone with Dr.Sunder Rao, and he immediately said he will raise fund for him and
told us to go ahead with what is best for the patient. This I would say was God supernaturally providing
the need of Shyamal Rao which is restoring his Vision back. Generosity of Dr.Sunder Rao which enabled
us to implant a very good quality Intra Ocular Lens (IOL) in his Left eye. Thank you once again Dr Sunder
Rao and Dr Valli for giving your support in helping these patients to have a good quality of life and
bringing Joy into their vacant lives. Shyamal rao has an added Smile on his face after his eye surgery.

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Mr Prabhakar Raju Krupa Benevolent Fund
REQUIREMENT OF DENTAL CHAIR FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEGED POOR COMMUNITY
Philadelphia community Hospital provides
direct oral health care in tribal and rural
underprivileged poor community to counsel
and give awareness on Oral Hygiene. We
accomplish free dental checkups in
government school and hill top villages for
orphans, underprivileged children, girls and
women. We also welcome to partner with
us and contribute to bringing a Change in
the society.
WORD OF THE MONTH
Each one of us has a God given specific Assignment to fulfil in our lives. Habakkuk 2:3

‘’For the Revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not
prove false. Though it lingers, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not
delay.’’ We can easily get frustrated and disappointed if God’s will for us does
not happen when we want it. Each one of us is placed on Earth for a specific
purpose. Whether you are Brain surgeon, a Judge or a cleaner God has charged
us with responsibility of taking care of a job. It is our Job to invest into it,
increasing it and presenting it back to God.We need to understand that there
are times and seasons in nature just as there are times and seasons in the
process of fulfilling God’s will for our lives. There will be lot obstructions,
failures, disappointments but as long as we PRAY , ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY,
and go out in FAITH, the Job that is allotted to us will be done. WHY? The Holy
Spirit will help us to do the Job at the appointed time because it is God’s will.
Amen

My gift to get RCS Surgery for teenagers

First name:
I’ m S e n d i n g m y o n e – o f f g i f t o f:

Rs:
Surname:

Address Your generous contribution will make a difference to

the lives of people with Blindness in and around Salur.

Payment by cheque: You can send donations by cheque in favour of

P L HOSPITAL, payable at Salur.

Phone
We love keeping in touch with you, but if you
would like to change how you hear from us,
simply call us on 99486 02753, 99404 26348
or email post salur@leprosymisson.in
Payment by NEFT payment: You can send your donations through
Transfer / NEFT: P L HOSPITAL
A/c no: 1 1 3 7 0 7 4 2 5 6 3, State Bank of India,
Salur branch (00914), IFS code: SBIN0000914
All donations to The Leprosy Mission Trust India are eligible for 50%
tax relief under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Get Involved & Support Our Work

Help us to change lives for the better! Join us in the fight against
Blindness and related diseases that affect the Tribal People of Salur.
Philadelphia Community Hospital, Salur, Vizianagaram District, Andhra Pradesh, India – 535 591
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