Church of South India, Pasumalai, Madurai - South Tamil Nadu

The Church of South India is a longstanding partner of Global Ministries. They support outreach, Christian education, and leadership development. India is the second most populated country in the world and home to over one billion people. Indian society is oppressed because of their social groups, extreme poverty, and lack of education. Forty percent of the people live on less than $1 US a day and are too poor to afford adequate nourishment on a regular basis. Famine and drought are frequent in India.

Madurai is situated on the banks of the Vaigai River, and is the second largest city of Tamil Nadu, a southern state in India. Madurai is more than 2,500 years old and has a rich cultural heritage and history.

The elderly living in the rural communities of Madurai, live in very difficult conditions due to poverty and lack of social services. Their drinking water is unsafe which contributes to various diseases and is an important cause of their suffering. They are deprived of health care facilities because they do not have the transportation or income resources for health care in the city. There is great need to provide health care services in their local communities.
 
The Inba Illam (Home for the Old and Needy) is initiating a mobile health care unit to provide the needed health care to these rural communities. Inba Illam also plans to provide a medical team of two doctors (preferable one female), a nurse, pharmacist, driver, and attendant. A van will be purchased for conducting the clinics. Making health care available will ensure regular check-ups, medicines, and much-needed care to the elderly, families, and children in remote areas. The medical team will visit the villages regularly each week.

Along with health care, the mobile health care units will provide education for training in hygiene and improvement of living conditions. Village Health Committees and social workers will be appointed in the villages. Social workers will be in charge of programs and training. Improvements in drainage and drinking water will be made and maintained. Families will be given training for the care of infants, immunizations of children, and nutrition. They will encourage children to attend school regularly. The Village Health Committee will organize the mobile health care unit visits to the village and will monitor the progress