THIS Newsletter, Volume – 10, September Edition

New Sight
Tribal’s waiting to get their sight back

Dr Sucharitha David Screening the Tribal women in

Nandeduvalasa, Tribal Area, Pachipenta mandal

Cataract Eye

You gave our sight!

Your gifts are changing lives every day: See Inside to find out more
Dear Friends

I felt compelled to share this update to demonstrate the

incredible difference you are making in the lives of
underprivileged living in tribal areas by enabling them to
see light from a dark world. The amazing news is that, we
are able to do this because of the generosity shown by you
in contributing towards the gift of sight for the unprivileged
community since 1904. Every helping hand that has been a
part of this activity is sure to get the blessings from heaven
abode.

We thank God for you and we need your prayers. Cataracts in India

The WHO/NPCB (National Programme for Control

With regards of Blindness) survey has shown that there is a backlog
of over 22 million blind eyes (12 million blind people)
in India, and 80.1% of these are blind due to cataract. ...
The present annual level of performance is in the order
Dr Sucharitha David of about 1.6-1.9 million cataract operations.

Ophthalmologist Surgeon
Celebrating impact of 115 years

More than 1500 Camps More than 50,000 Screened More than 20,000 Surgeries

Free Eye camps Cataract Screening Done Free Cataract surgeries

Know about our Ophthalmologist

Dr Sucharitha David parents worked in Leprosy Mission meeting needs of
the patients affected by leprosy (PALS). Dr Sucharitha David was
inspired by them and by God’s grace secured a seat in Christian medical
college, Vellore, where the medical training began, and she started a
holistic approach towards her patients. She is grateful to God for that
wonderful opportunity and then moved on to taking care of the Leprosy
patients staying in mercy homes wherein she saw their needs for eye care
were high in order to lead a quality life.

Dr Sucharitha David felt the need to be trained in Ophthal in a double way (She means the Post -graduation diploma & also a degree from
the national board – DNB) wherein the training made her excel in treating from cataract to glaucoma, which are the prevalent causes of
blindness in our country. Her heart reaches out to those who are really in need to see good vision to lead a good quality of life especially to
those in rural areas wherein cataract, trachoma, glaucoma, etc are more prevalent and which are preventable if detected early. She prays
that her journey in Philadelphia Community Hospital (The Leprosy Mission India) would be giving glory to God by giving the be st vision
possible to those in need, thereby giving them good quality of life seeing more smiles on their faces and touching the lives of those crying
out in need .

Giving is better than receiving because giving starts the receiving process.
 Health, education, hospitality bringing joy to tribal families of adopted villages of Salur

THIS project works for child development, health and tribal welfare of adopted villages in salur, Vizianagaram district
in Andhra Pradesh. The target groups are the children of 3 to 15 year age group from poor tribal families of the adopted
villages area of the project as well as from other tribal areas of Salur mandal. Due to many reasons, including social
taboo, inaccessibility, violent situations, child labour, assisting the parents to take care of toddlers and lack of awareness
among the parents, the children of the village do not get a chance to go to school. The project aims to promote primary
education of the poor tribal children.
In addition to this, the project strives to improve the quality of Health for children in the tribal belts of Salur Mandal.
Promoting health and healthy practices among the rural tribal children is also a part of the project.

T.H.I.S. CHARITY GIVES NEW LIFE BY DONATING ARTIFICIAL LIMBS IN SALUR

Navagani Appayamma 60 years old she hails from AMG colony
Simhachalam, Visakhapatnam. Her Husband died 19 years ago. Mrs
Appayamma has 3 children. 14 years ago she was diagnosed with leprosy
disease and in 2006 she was on MDT (Multi Drug Therapy) given for 16
months in Philadelphia Leprosy Hospital in Salur. In 2008 she had ulcer in her
foot and gradually became chronic Ulcers and had to amputate her Right leg.
She suffered without leg from the past 10 years. Our Philadelphia community
hospital identified Mrs Appayamma in a medical camp and referred to artificial
centre in Philadelphia community hospital in salur. Mrs Appamaya visited the
artificial centre and got the artificial limb and she was happy that she can go
alone without any assistance. She says that she will be very thankful to THIS
project for the support they have given to her.

It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.
Mother Teresa
 Palli Ravanamma age 38 is a typical housewife in Panchadi, Tribal Village in Salur and no
landholding; the man of the house died 6 years ago and Mrs Ravanamma goes for 100 days
employment through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
Scheme (NREGS), to keep the home fires burning; unable to provide a proper education to
the Daughters. There was a time when she thought her dreams would perish as fate was
scripting another story for her. Mrs Ravanamma day by day she was losing her eye sight.
Initially, she ignored that, but after a few months, she found that she could not see anything
and complete blindness. She could not see anything or could do any kind of work. She even
couldn’t go anywhere without assistant. Her Church Elder Miss Mary Vasantha the
Medical Records took her to the Philadelphia community hospital in Salur to consult Dr
Sucharitha David, Eye Surgeon for Consultation and the Doctor Suggested for Phaco
surgery for better result as she is the bread winner of the family and have to go for work in
her future. Mrs.Ravanamma did not have enough money for her eye surgery and thinking of
it and left the hospital. The Doctor Found out that Mrs Ravanamma could not afford and
Dr.Sucharitha David than felt that she want to do the surgery at free of cost. Staff brought
her back and got the surgery and now Mrs Ravanamma can see clearly and she says that
“I’m surprised that i got clear, good vision it is the hand of the lord upon me. I never thought
that i could get back sight to see and this could happen,” While in the hospital, she has
shared with the hospital staff her ambition to educate her daughter become a Teacher.
“Now, I’m sure my Daughter ambition to become a teacher will become a reality. Thanks
to Philadelphia Community Hospital, Salur for uplifting the dreams of the people by
proving free eye Surgeries in and around salur.
W ORD OF THE MONTH
The Qualities of a Christian Characters 2 Peter 1: 5-7 :, 2 Peter 1:3-4
The Character qualities listed by Peter, The Apostle are
1. Faith 2.Perseverance 3.Goodness 4.Godliness 5.Knowledge 6 Kindness 7.Self-control 8.Finally Love.
These 8 Characters are admirable to possess for a Christian but they can also be overwhelming!
But is it really possible for us to acquire and follow them? Peter, the Apostle also gives us the answer in 2 Peter 1:3-4 ( 3: His divine power has given us everything we need for
life ------“ 4:Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” )
The real spiritual and divine transformation of a Christian takes place from inside out rather than from outside in. We have not only received a new nature in
Christ (Romans6: 6-13) but also an indwelling (within us) Holy Spirit whose power makes it possible to manifest these 8 characters to imitate Christ. Think
about it! Amen.

My gift to get new sight like Mrs.Palli Ravanamma

First name:
I’m Sending my one–off gift of:

Rs:
Surname:

Address Your generous contribution will make a difference to

the lives of people with Blindness in and around Salur.

Payment by cheque: You can send donations by cheque in favour of

P L HOSPITAL, payable at Salur.

Phone
Payment by NEFT payment: You can send your donations through
We love keeping in touch with you, but if you
would like to change how you hear from us, Transfer / NEFT: P L HOSPITAL
simply call us on 99486 02753, 99404 26348 A/c no: 1 1 3 7 0 7 4 2 5 6 3, State Bank of India,
or email post salur@leprosymisson.in Salur branch (00914), IFS code: SBIN0000914
All donations to The Leprosy Mission Trust India are eligible for 50%
tax relief under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Get Involved & Support Our Work

Help us to change lives for the better! Join us in the fight against
Blindness and related diseases that affect the Tribal People of Salur.
Philadelphia Community Hospital, Salur, Vizianagaram District, Andhra Pradesh, India – 535 591