Chennai – India (Mission 6)

Sir Ivan Stedeford Hospital, Ambattur and Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children in Chennai, India- January 18 to 25, 2009

The sixth medical volunteer mission by Arpan Global Charities was held at Sir Ivan Stedeford Hospital in Ambattur and Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children in Chennai in India from January 18 to 25, 2009. The team of twelve volunteer included two anesthesiologist, a neonatal nurse, a pediatric echocardiogram technician, a gynecologist, a pediatricians, two pediatric cardiologists, a pediatric hematologist, a neonatologist, an occupational therapist and a non-medical volunteer. Besides volunteers from California there were many local medical and non-medical volunteers from Chennai who helped to make this a successful mission.

In addition to direct patient care our team members delivered various lectures at these two hospitals as well as hands on demonstration of ecchocardiographic and cranial ultrasonographic techniques. Many surgical and non-surgical procedures were performed. There was very productive interaction between the visiting team members and local nursing and medical staff. The team members also had the opportunity to visit the SOS Village for orphans in Chennai. At this orphanage our team members donated toys, clothes and stationary items to the children. Clothes were also donated to the poor patients at Sir Ivan Stedeford Hospital and at Institute of Child Health & Hospital for Children in Chennai. One of our team members, Dr. Carrie Rickard, donated a refrigerator to store life saving medications in the labor and delivery ward at Sir Ivan Stedeford Hospital.

Mission Chennai, another successful medical volunteer mission by Arpan Global Charities, was made possible by the help and support of Dr. TJ Rao, the Medical Director at Sir Ivan Stedeford Hospital, Ambattur in Chennai, India.