SOLIDARITY PROJECT WITH THE “VICENTE FERRER FOUNDATION”

THE HEALTH SITUATION FOR INDIA’S CHILD POPULATION

Contagious and infectious diseases are the main causes of premature death in India, affecting more than 2.5 million children under five every year and a similar number of young people up to the age of 15. Another major cause of infant mortality -which stands at around 50%- is malnutrition.

What is more, the health of the youngest members of society depends on the financial situation of their parents, who often live in a state of extreme poverty making it impossible for them to take their children to health centres.

Deaths from illnesses that can be both easily prevented and treated may be the consequence of difficulties in accessing health services, the inefficiency of these or a combination of the two.

Since 1972, the Vicente Ferrer Foundation (FVF) has helped to run an extensive healthcare programme. Besides contributing to improvements in healthcare accessibility in rural India, the Foundation collaborates with the Indian government in some of its work in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Today, the organization has a hospital network -with a total of 592 beds- which includes three general or referral hospitals located in Bathalapalli, Kalyandurg and Kanekal, as well as a pediatric hospital and a specialist centre for treating patients affected by infectious diseases, as well as a family planning centre in Anantapur. To cover the more remote areas, the FVF has a total of 16 rural clinics.

The FVF’s Pediatric Hospital, in the town of Bathalapalli, constitutes one of the region’s largest centres for providing healthcare to its infant population.

SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE BATHALAPALLI PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL

Medical team led by a specialist pediatrician.

1. Three inpatient wards with 75 beds.
2. Five rooms for outpatient care, for consultations, giving vaccinations…
3. Clinical analysis and studies to enable proper diagnoses and treatments.
4. Pediatric and neonatal Intensive Care Units (UCI).
5. Emergency pediatric service that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
6. Care and treatment for child diseases, such as bronchitis, gastroenteritis, pneumonia…
7. Care, treatment and follow-up of acute or chronic illnesses like thalassemia, epilepsy, juvenile diabetes and heart diseases.
8. It provides nutrition to all inpatients and their mothers, as well as the medication prescribed as part of their treatment.
9. Training and refresher workshops for healthcare personnel.