Families face difficulties accessing healthcare

(MissionNewswire) Nearly 100 residents of the coastal villages of Mangalam, located in Alappuzha, Kerala, India, benefited from a free medical camp organized by the Family Commission of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, the Mangalam Primary Health Care Center and the multidisciplinary organization IDS in Alappuzha.

A Salesian explained, “This initiative brought much-needed healthcare services to a community that often faces difficulties in accessing medical care. The initiative aimed to address the healthcare needs of coastal families, many of whom have to travel long distances or forgo a day’s wages to see a doctor. Many expressed their gratitude for this initiative, highlighting the collective efforts to promote the health of this community.”

The medical camp not only provided free care but also reaffirmed the importance of caring for and standing by people who are disadvantaged. Around the globe, Salesian missionaries care for people who are sick and provide preventative care through more than 150 clinics, hospitals and dispensaries (many located in rural areas). Both physical and psychological health services can be found in many communities alongside other Salesian programs.

India has the world’s fourth largest economy but more than 22% of the country lives in poverty. About 31% of the world’s multidimensionally poor children live in India, according to a report by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative.

India’s youth face a lack of educational opportunities due to issues of caste, class and gender. Almost 44% of the workforce is illiterate and less than 10% of the working-age population has completed a secondary education. In addition, many secondary school graduates do not have the knowledge and skills to compete in today’s changing job market.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – India – A medical camp for residents of the coastal area of Kerala

Salesian Missions – India

World Bank – India