The hospital emergency room
The average daily wage for a labourer in the Manali area is little more than $4 a day. While tourism is growing in the area, this has deleterious effects by taking farms (and thus the income) from traditional land holders. With a large population of Tibetan and Nepalese refugees, as well as people who have fled Kashmir, there is a substantial population of those who are unable to afford medical care.
One of the many Tibetan and Nepalese refugee shantytowns serviced by the Hospital
The Lady Willingdon Hospital provides health care to all, irrespective of ethnicity or socioeconomic status. The hospital relies on the proceeds from donations and patients who are able to pay for their treatment to subsidise or write-off the treatment of those who are unable to pay for themselves. In doing so, a significant portion of hospital earnings is given away as charity each year. This leaves very little for further development of the hospital and its programmes, the renewal of old and outdated equipment, and the repair of decrepit buildings. The hospital is thus dependent on donations for the majority of capital expenses.
In Australia such conditions would be considered a grave injustice. LWH has been highly effective in helping people in disadvantaged positions and so the managers of the Manali Medical Aid Project do their best to support the Lady Willingdon Hospital’s work.
About the Manali Medical Aid Project
- What does Lady Willingdon Hospital do?
- So why does the Hospital need help?
- How does the Manali Medical Aid Project provide this help?
- Who runs the Manali Medical Aid Project?
- How can I contribute to the project?
- Where can I get more information?
