The Calgary-based CHILD Foundation has built and now operates a hospital to provide basic medical care to women and children in rural India. Working with two Rotary Clubs in Calgary and supported by corporate donations, the Foundation constructed Maya Devi Charitable Hospital in the village of Sarurpur, which is near New Delhi. The facility went into service in October 2011 and has served over 40,000 patients.
We have accomplished a great deal already, but much remains to be done. Water-borne diseases are the most common source of illness, so we have identified clean drinking water as a priority. Improved education in health and hygiene, and in female reproduction and sexual education, are also urgent.
Women in rural India lack knowledge and resources for using clean sanitary napkins. Due to a lack of education, coupled with poverty and old practices, women use dirty rags during mensuration cycle. This leads to infection and more serious diseases over time. A pilot project in 2013 with donated sanitary napkins was extremely successful.
This campaign is aimed at raising funds to purchase sanitary napkins and provide them to women of productive age. This will have extremely positive impact on the lives of thousands of teenage girls and women.