Human life is fragile. Trauma or illness may strike
at a moment's notice, and such events can seemingly
turn our lives upside down. Suffering is universal-it
cares not whether we are rich or poor, nor whether we
live in a bustling metropolis or a remote village.
Medical services, however, are not universally available.
Mumbai is the growing financial, film, and technology
capital of India. The city's population is nearing 20
million, and, like India itself, it is a place of contrasts.
Among its institutions are some of the world's finest
hospitals, providing state-of-the-art care to the few
who can afford it. However, even basic health care is
out of the reach of the majority of the city's inhabitants.
Lok Hospital was born out of a vision to provide quality
health care to all, regardless of wealth, race, or religion.
At the heart of Lok Hospital is the belief that Jesus
Christ is the ultimate healer. Lok Hospital's mission
is to show Christ's love through its provision of state-of-the-art
health care, and to minister to the needs, both medical
and spiritual, of every patient.
Lok Hospital intends to meet the needs not just of urban
Mumbai, but also the needs of the surrounding rural
villages. Thane, a suburb of Mumbai located 45 kilometers
from downtown and the nearest city to many rural villages,
has provided the perfect setting for the hospital. The
city has seen its population grow by over 50 percent
in the past decade, due in part to the migration of
those living in rural poverty to this urban center.
This has created a dramatic rise in slums and all the
associated health problems, yet these are the people
with the least access to health care. Furthermore, due
to the proximity of Thane to many rural villages, a
village health care project was able to be started in
conjunction with the hospital. This rural health project
meets the basic needs of many people in the villages,
with others being referred to Lok Hospital.
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