Madhipura Christian Hospital, Bihar

Living standards in Madhipura are very poor. Women and children are mostly illiterate and are the most neglected sector of the community. Poverty and superstition are major contributors to poor health.

Housing is of poor quality and the majority lack sanitary latrines. Iron deficiency anaemia, malnutrition, malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, kala azar and gastro-enteritis constitute the wide spectrum of infectious diseases.

There are plans to introduce a Community Health programme to villages within a 70/80 km radius, and plans to conduct a health needs assessment.

The hospital vision is to provide quality care at affordable cost by training staff and improving the quality of existing buildings, and by acquiring much-needed equipment.

In August 2008 heavy rains and a failed levy caused severe flooding in the town of Madhipura, and the Hospital campus was flooded for several weeks. Water levels of 5-6 feet covered the campus causing damage to many of the facilities, especially to staff quarters on the site.

Now that flood waters have recessed, damage to buildings continues to occur as the sandy soil prevalent in the area settles. Reparation work has continued over the past year.