Bethlehem Shelter Society (BSS) providing homes for the homeless
Bethlehem Shelter Society (BSS) was founded through St Elizabeth Hospital Hyderabad in 2012 to respond to the havoc caused by the massive floods in Sindh Pakistan in 2010 and 2011. It takes its name from the incident in the gospel when the Holy Family were without shelter when they arrived in Bethlehem. BSS is a government-registered society and has an annual external audit. Its results depend completely on the generosity of donors.
To date 895 homes have been built in many locations for impoverished Hindus, Muslims and Christians. A special focus has been the planning and development of a settlement at Jhirruk 40km south of Hyderabad. Ninety permanent homes have been built there, a permanent water connection has been made, and large water storage tanks have been constructed throughout the settlement both for drinking and cooking purposes and separately for bathing and washing. We plan to extend and increase these water tanks and connections this year to cope with the extra number of houses which will be built.
A major achievement at Jhirruk is the development of positive community participation and responsibility among the people who live there. They are led by Mrs. Reshma who, although illiterate, is an effective co-chairperson of the Bethlehem Shelter Society. Reshma overturns the convenient stereotypes about Pakistani women.
In 2016 a two-roomed clinic was built so that St Elizabeth Hospital could provide regular medical care through its Mobile Medical Outreach Programme to people of Jhirruk and the surrounding area. We hope to be able to complete and furnish the clinic this year and to purchase equipment and a generator.
Mobile Medical Outreach Programme (MMOP)
Through its Mobile Medical Outreach Programme (MMOP), St Elizabeth Hospital is the sole medical provider to many impoverished semi-nomadic tribal people who are bonded agricultural workers in Sindh province in south-east Pakistan. The majority are Hindu although many are marginalized Christians and Muslims.
The outcomes this year in patient care by the MMOP on a primary health care level are impressive. A total of 46,930 people were cared for: 14,079 male; 21,119 female; 4,693 male children under the age of five years; 7,039 children under the age of five years.
Common healthcare issues are those related to mother and child care, malnutrition, malaria, typhoid, gastroenteritis, respiratory tract infections, anaemia, jaundice, viral infections, dysentery, dehydration, UTI, skin diseases, and TB prevention and control.
MMOP at St Elizabeth Hospitall is an outstanding example of inter-faith collaboration in Pakistan. Dr. Sajid Hussain Naqvi is a Shia Muslim, the Head of the MMOP Department Mr. Eric Siraj is a Catholic, Dr. Vedwiyas Lohana is Hindu, and all the nursing staff are Christian. The patients seen are Muslim, Christian, and Hindu.
St Elizabeth Hospital
St Elizabeth Hospital, Hyderabad, Pakistan.
St Elizabeth Hospital in Hyderabad continues to contribute significantly to health care in south-east Pakistan. Most hospitals and doctors are in big cities and the ratio for the rural population is unsatisfactory. The government health departments recognize the important role of the private sector in providing health care but provide zero financial assistance and minimal tax concessions.
St Elizabeth Hospital in Hyderabad gives the best possible care at the lowest possible cost to those in greatest need. Responding to the increasing incidence in Pakistan of cancer as a major medical issue (Pakistan Economic Survey 2017, p.191), St Elizabeth provides home-based palliative care to terminally-ill cancer patients.
Although Pakistan has shown improvement in the Infant Mortality rate of 62 per thousand from 66 per thousand in 2015, the maternal mortality rate of 170 per 100,000 is still very high compared to other countries in the region (Pakistan Economic Survey 2017, p.190). Mother and child care and neo-natal care are prime issues in the health care given at St Elizabeth which is a major contributor in addressing these issues in interior Sindh. The School of Midwifery attached to St Elizabeth continues to make a difference in maternal, neonatal, and infant care in Pakistan through the training and annual graduation of midwives and lady health visitors. At the same time, young women from marginalized communities in less-developed areas of Pakistan who train at St Elizabeth School of Midwifery advance their socio-economic position by enabling them to become skilled professional and qualified midwives.
Christian, Muslim and Hindu professionals, doctors and nurses work together at St Elizabeth Hospital in the best tradition of Catholic health care.
Celebrating 10 years of Education in Hyderabad Pakistan
Young men from the Catholic Youth Development Centre.
Catholic Centre of Academic Excellence (CCAE)
Seventy-three young men have graduated from CCAE since the first group completed the four-year course in 2011. Their results have far exceeded our hopes. Amongst the courses they are enrolled in are MA Software Engineering, Fine Arts, Commerce, BBA, MBA, Chartered Accountancy, Automotive Engineering, Media and Mass Communication, Information Technology, Hotel and Hospitality Management, Agricultural Engineering, MA English, Nursing, Sociology, MBBS, Pharmacy, and Dentistry. Most work at the same time to support themselves. All are involved in the life of their communities and parishes. Four have joined the seminary to prepare for the priesthood. Several have joined the Pakistan armed forces. Seventy two students are currently enrolled in the CCAE.
Catholic Youth Development Centre (CYDC)
Delighted with the success of the CCAE, we decided in 2008 to extend our scope to include the other major problem of Catholic young people in Pakistan: being condemned to a grinding life of social discrimination and exclusion due to illiteracy. Literacy and education give the openings to work opportunities.
Fifty-four young graduates of the CYDC are now well employed as tradesmen, in the hospitality industry, and in factories and companies, and in health care. Sixty-one are currently enrolled in CYDC.
Columban Fr Robert McCulloch resides in Rome as the Procurator General for St Columbans Mission Society.
Photos: Fr Robert McCulloch SSC
Related links
- Read more from The Far East - October 2017
