HLWM is reaching out to people in need with love and care. Dr. Annelies Wilder-Smith, associate professor for medicine, has initiated Community Health Education (CHE) with wonderful results. CHE involves teaching villagers to clean their villages, grow some vegetables, and set up latrines, among others. In short CHE helps to improve their living conditions by applying hygiene and illness-prevention measures, helping their neighbours and trying to improve social life. All in all, CHE is offered in more than 30 villages.
Medical work is done by Indian nurses in a number of medical centres and mobile medical camps. Traditional midwives trained by their (grand)mothers have since learned to use modern methods, with good results. Nurses also help to disseminate information about family planning and about AIDS. Sadly, AIDS has more and more become a widespread problem in Andhra Pradesh.
Eye surgeries
As a result of malnutrition (Vitamin A deficiencies), diabetes or injuries, many Indian suffer from eye cataracts. HLWM organised a first eye camp on its compounds in 1995 where hundreds of Indians, Hindus and Christians, were examined by Indian eye specialists. Thanks to the local help of medical doctors and sponsors, many patients underwent successful eye cataract operations and where so happy to be able to see again afterwards!
