Appeal by Indian doctor

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33254, 18 June 1973, Page 14

Appeal by Indian doctor

The most pressing social and medical problem facing Ondia is still the over-rapiid growth of population, according to Dr K. G. Koshi, director of the Christian Medical College and Hospital of Vellore.

Intensive government programmes providing free advice and contraceptive devices, and payments to men |to be sterilised, had been instituted “but whether we will gain control of the population growth, I can’t say,” he said.

“The programmes in the urban area have been fairly well accepted and organised but in rural areas (where 80 per cent of the people live) because of a lack of health personnel they have not been as successful as planned for. “The problem is motivating people to accept family planning after they have had two or three children.” MASS STERILISATION The pill had not been successful (“only the educated few’ take it”) but in some intensive male sterilisation programmes 10,000 to 12,000 men had been operated on in three or four weeks. Dr Koshi (who has four i children, three in college and jone at high school) is director of an institution which 'was begun by an American missionary with one bed in) 1900 and which now has 1150 beds, a staff of 2400 ,and turns out 60 trained doctors and 80 nurses annually. ' It was the first hospital in I the world to develop reconstructive surgery for patients j disabled by leprosy, and it was the first in India to start I recognised residence trainpng in chest, brain and heart surgerv. Two years ago kid- ’ nev transplant operations ■were begun there. About 15 per cent of the ihosnital’s running expenses I—this 1 —this year budgeted at 19

million rupees (about sl.7m) —came from the United States, Canada, Britain*, Australia, New Zealand and other countries. $25,000 SOUGHT Dr Koshi is attempting to raise $25,000 to match a gift of $50,000 from the United States to build up an endowment fund to provide treatment at a rehabilitation centre for paraplegics at the hospital. The purpose of his visit to New Zealand is “to meet the people who are interested in our work in Vellore and who provide support.” Only about $4OO a year is provided from New Zealand to support the hospital. This money goes through an organisation known as the Friends of Vellore, which was started here in 1966. The president of the organisation is the Bishop of Christchurch (the Rt Rev. W. A. Pyatt) and its patron is Sir Guy Powles, whom Dr Koshi will

meet in Wellington later this week.

However, Dr Koshi emphasises what he calls the “important contribution” of two New Zealanders at the hospital, Dr J. E. Henderson and Dr Phyllis Taylor, both of Auckland. Dr Henderson has been with the hospital for the last three years and he is now organising an electronic maintenance and repair service.

As well, he has built a cardiac pacemaker with locally-made parts and this has been found quite satisfactory. Dr Taylor is engaged in leprosy work, with special emphasis on medical treatment, epidemology and rehabilitation.

Yesterday, Dr Koshi preached at services at the Durham Street Methodist Church and Christchurch Cathedral and tonight he will talk at a public meeting at St Mary’s Church hall, Merivale.