Occupational therapist Rachel and 11-year-old Chandan, Chinchpada Christian Hospital, Maharashtra, India

Compassion that won’t quit

Chinchpada Christian Hospital – Maharashtra – India

The success of Chinchpada’s palliative care work has led the team to widen the support they give in the community.

In the last year, the team at Chinchpada Christian Hospital has helped:

In the last year, the team at Chinchpada Christian Hospital has helped: 117 people with end-of-life care 140 people with sickle cell disease 258 people with Tuberculosis 62 people with alcoholism 48 people with a disability

Written by occupational therapist Rachel

When I got the opportunity to start the rehabilitation department at MAI partner Chinchpada, I jumped at it. The discrimination faced by poor people with a disability is hard to see. They often have no one to speak up for them.

That’s why we go into the community to give people healthcare and support, and to train their families. The joy patients experience when someone holds their hand and listens to their tears is contagious. I’m grateful to show God’s compassion to those who have hardly ever received love and care, like 11-year-old Pranav, who has muscular dystrophy

Chandan and Rachel, at Chinchpada Christian Hospital, Maharashtra, India
Occupational therapist Rachel and 11-year-old Pranav

His parents are alcohol-dependent and very poor. They brought him to hospital once, but never returned. So, we went to look for him. After asking around a lot we found his house, but he wasn’t there. We begged his mother to bring him to hospital. Weeks passed with no response. We went back to his house again and again until we found him.

Now we are walking with Pranav in his journey of disability. We’ve taught him exercises for muscle strength and helped him get a disability certificate and a longed-for bicycle. 

People like Pranav leave deep imprints in my heart.

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This story first appeared in MAI’s 2021-22 Annual Review. Find out more about the impact you had last year through our trusted partners by reading our Annual Review today!

Occupational therapist Rachel
"The joy patients experience when someone holds their hand and listens to their tears is contagious," says Rachel.

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