CMC – unikt sjukhus i Indien med 100 års historia av samhällsutveckling

Vi fick i veckan ett nyhetsbrev från CMC-sjukhuset i Vellore som på en knapp sida skildrar 100 års utveckling av en unik institution. Redan från början tilldrog sig CMC nationell uppmärksamhet, med besök från nationellt ledande personer som bl a Mahatma Gandhi. Nedan följer ett utdrag ur ett nyhetsbrev från CMC som beskriver hans besök 1928:

”Remembering 154th Gandhi Jayanti

On this Gandhi Jayanti, this photograph reminds us, of the visit of Mahatma Gandhi to CMC Vellore in 1928. Gandhiji was invited by Dr. Ida Scudder, the founder of the College, to witness the service that was being provided at CMC. Dr Ida Scudder believed that healthcare was a fundamental human right. She echoed the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhiji ”When woman, whom we all call ’abala’ becomes ’sabala’ , all those who are helpless will become powerful”. Gandhiji was impressed by the Institution’s commitment to providing quality healthcare to the poor and marginalized.

Today, CMC Vellore a 123-year-old institution with its motto ”Not to be served but to serve,” continues to pioneer Rural & Urban poor healthcare through its outreach programmes, such as RUHSA, CHAD, LCECU, CONCH and Jawadhi Hills. These programmes provide essential healthcare services to the underserved communities in and around Vellore. CMC Vellore also has a network of around 168 mission hospitals across India, largely in rural areas. These hospitals provide high-quality affordable healthcare to people in remote and underserved rural villages. This indeed reflects Gandhiji’s statement ”The future of India lies in its villages.” CMC Vellore’s rural healthcare programmes are making a real difference in the lives of millions of people. They are promoting health care equity and ensuring that everyone has access to quality healthcare, regardless of their location or social status. As we commemorate the birth and life of Gandhiji, may we continue to strive for social justice and equity especially in healthcare.

“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” – M.K. Gandhi.”

Gandhi Jayanti är en indisk högtidsdag till minnet av Gandhis födelsedag den 2 oktober 1869. I nyhetsbrevet, med ett något suddigt foto, skildras hans besök på CMC 1928, inbjuden av Ida Scudder, den amerikanska missionsläkare som grundade CMC år 1900. En annan Gandhi, Indira Gandhi (som dock inte var släkt med Mahatma Gandhi), besökte CMC vid flera tillfällen, första gången 1958. År 2005 besökte Indiens president Abdul Kalam CMC.

Anledningen till denna uppmärksamhet över åren är CMC:s unika kombination av ledande universitetssjukhus med all tänkbar högteknologisk vård och samtidiga fokus på basal sjukvård för Indiens fattiga bybefolkning. Det senare dels genom ett flertal landsbygdsenheter i Vellores närhet, dels som utbildningsinstitution för 168 missionssjukhus runt om i Indien. I båda fallen erbjuds högkvalitativ vård till låg kostnad.