Czech donors gave St. Ignatius Hospital in Honavar, India a new ultrasound machine

Another piece of equipment that Czech donors gave to St. Ignatius Hospital in Honavar, India is a modern ultrasound machine, which replaced a device that was more than ten years old and already malfunctioning.

The new ultrasound machine made it possible to restore diagnostics directly at the hospital, without patients having to travel to more distant medical facilities for examinations. Already on the first day it was put into operation, it helped a number of patients.

Mrs. Savitha, a 52-year-old woman with abdominal pain and a breast lump, came to the hospital. The ultrasound revealed cysts and changes in the lymph nodes. A follow-up examination confirmed breast cancer, and thanks to the early diagnosis, she was able to begin treatment. Another patient was Mrs. Marina, a 62-year-old woman who suffered from abdominal pain. The examination showed an umbilical hernia. The hospital admitted her and provided a discount on examination and treatment.

In the geriatric ward, Mr. Valerian, a 78-year-old man who came with abdominal pain, was examined. The ultrasound revealed fatty liver disease, and doctors were able to begin treatment. Help was also found for Mr. Shreesha, an eighteen-year-old young man with weight loss and fatigue. The examination showed enlarged lymph nodes in the abdomen, which enabled a quick referral for further care. And finally, four-year-old Lakshya, whose mother noticed swelling in her groin. The ultrasound confirmed an inguinal hernia, and the girl was referred for monitoring.

Quality healthcare thanks to long-term support

The Caritas of the Archdiocese of Prague has supported St. Ignatius Hospital long-term. Thanks to Czech donors, the hospital was able to move to a new building in 2012 and expand its services. It also became a place where students from St. Ignatius Nursing School, which was founded thanks to Czech assistance, gain practical experience. During the coronavirus pandemic, Caritas donated three lung ventilators to the hospital. In recent years, it supported the modernization of the surgical department – providing a harmonic scalpel, a new autoclave, two operating tables, two surgical lights, and also purchased a laparoscopic device for half a million crowns, which expanded surgical options for thousands of patients.

St. Ignatius Hospital is run by the Congregation of the Queen of Apostles, which is dedicated to caring for the poor and vulnerable. Its long-time superior, Sister Maria Goretti, was instrumental in establishing the Child Sponsorship Programme in India and received the prestigious Gratias Agit award from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic in 2003 for her work. Sister Goretti will celebrate 50 years of religious consecration this December.

We thank all Czech donors who, through their generosity, are changing the lives of people in one of India’s poorest regions. Thanks to your help, thousands of patients can access quality healthcare that was previously unavailable to them.