The state-run health system is failing to give skilled care
to the poor, and child mortality rates have doubled in India's
slums. Surma lost her son Parmesh to easily preventable diarrhea at only four
years old.
India's growing status as
an economic superpower is masking a failure to curb a shocking rate of infant
deaths among its poorest people. Nearly two million children under five die
every year in India
– one every 15 seconds – the highest number anywhere in the world. More than
half die in the first month after birth and 400,000 in their first 24 hours.
Malnutrition, neonatal diseases, diarrhea and pneumonia are
the major causes of death. Poor rural states are particularly affected by a lack
of health resources; numerous mothers have lost one or more infants in their
first years of life through want of basic medical attention.
Akila Anees's son, Mohammed Armann, who was almost three,
died in her arms three weeks ago when a torrential downpour had flooded the
slum, rainwater mixing with the raw sewage which fills the ink-black drains
bisecting the narrow lanes. It rose to a depth of 2ft. Within days, Armann had
fallen ill and died soon afterwards.
Millions of mothers and their babies are simply not getting
the skilled medical care they need, and the poor, in particular, have been left
behind. For many poor parents and their children, seeking medical help is a
luxury and health services are often too far away.
Nearly nine million children die worldwide every year before
the age of five. India
has the highest number of those deaths.
In 1936, Mahatma Gandhi said, “If the villages perish, India
will perish too.” Even after 60 years of independence, people of the villages
remain unreached. The rural people do not have access to education, healthcare,
or jobs. According to World Bank estimates, every third poor person in the
world is from India.
We are raising funds to begin a free medical ministry and
mobile medical clinic for the poor and destitute of the city of Bangalore and surrounding
villages. We need to raise a one time cost of $20,745 to establish and purchase
van, medical equipment, and medicines.
Please prayerfully consider partnering with us to save the
life of a child by Clicking Here.
You may also send a check to AIM
PO Box 1597
Stillwater, OK 74076
Be sure to write “Medical Ministry” in the memo line.
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Pray for the nation of 1.2 billion people in India
to experience a movement of the Holy Spirit. Ask for the strongholds of Hinduism,
Islam, alcoholism and sexual sin to be broken in Jesus’ name.
Asia International Mission is an
IRS approved 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry.
All gifts are tax-deductible and
100% of donations are used as designated
