Historically, the Church in India has relegated the ministry of healing to mission hospitals that were set up as the healing arm of the church. After India’s independence and the exit of most foreign missionaries, external help to mission hospitals was drastically reduced. Many of these hospitals are struggling for existence, others have closed their doors. There is a resurgence, today, of Christian community health care missions. The old models of mission hospital-based mobile services and satellite clinics have given way to new models of community need0based, participatory, community-managed primary health care. The micro projects that have come with this new model have demonstrated some vibrant, innovative and sustainable models of health care.

Perhaps the greatest challenge the SBHS has ever faced is the HIV/AIDS crisis. The spread of HIV within India has varied from state to state and from rural to urban areas. In some regions HIV spreads primarily by heterosexual transmission. In some areas transmission is primarily through intravenous drug use. HIV has now spread throughout India and is on the rise everywhere. India has the world’s second highest number of HIV infected people. Estimates range from as low as 4 million to over 12 million infected Indian citizens.

The Synodical Board of Health Services continues to provide administrative oversight and consultative guidance to many of the mission hospitals and medical staff training schools in Northern India. Christian Hospitals in India provide quality care without regard to the patient’s ability to pay. For many communities, the presence of a Christian Hospital has a transformative affect on the area. The hospitals are continually challenged to maintain facilities, purchase needed equipment and to attract and keep medical staff, for whom the rural locations are often considered a disadvantage. The following are hospitals with which Global Ministries has historical relationships.

• Christian Medical College and Hospital at Vellore
• Christian Medical College and Hospital at Ludhiana
• Diptipur Christian Hospital
• Evangelical Hospital in Chattisgarh
• Evangelical Hospital at Khariar
• Fairbank James Friendship Memorial Hospital and the Shumaker School of Nursing at Vadala
• Indore School of Nursing
• Jackman Hospital and Nursing School at Bilaspur
• Mungeli Christian Hospital currently directed by missionary Anil Henry
• St. Luke’s Hospital, Vengurla
• St. Mary’s Hospital at Tarn Taran
• Tilda Evangelical Mission Hospital
• Wills Fairbank Pierce Memorial Hospital at Wai

The Synodical Board of Health Services also encourages, helps and supports the future members of the Church training for service in the Healing Ministry through scholarships to students in Medicine, Nursing and Paramedics at the Christian Medical College and The College of Nursing (Vellore), The Christian Medical College and the College of Nursing at Ludhiana. Scholarships were also given for the Sister Tutor training course. This potential of people for service in the Church is carefully nurtured through visits and personal contacts with as many as possible during each year. It is not only students training in Christian Institutions that are cared for and nurtured, but also Christian students of the Church of North India who are studying in government or private institutions. For more information visit their website: http://www.cnisbhs.com/undercon.htm