AMG Leprosy Relief and Rehabilitation Center at Narava village, Vizianagaram named Bethsaida was started in the year 1979. The leprosy victims of the Project are engaged in some activities, in which they are experienced. Such an engagement keeps them physically and mentally active, besides giving them satisfaction seeing the results of their labour.
The leprosy victims of the colony are given monthly supports. Those, who are totally crippled and unable to do any work due to their physical deformities, are totally looked after in the Custodial Care Units. There are two separate Custodial Care Units for male and female leprosy victims. AMG gives them food, clothing and provides all other amenities, including medical aid, free of cost. There are 50 leprosy patients in the Care Units (25 each in male and female Care Units).
6 children children or grandchildren of leprosy victims are studying in our AMG Residential English Medium School, Bheemunipatnam. Another 16 children are studying in local schools. One Girl is studying Nursing Course with help from AMG. The leprosy victims are given 2 pairs of clothes, 2 bed sheets to inmate of Custodial Care Units and 1 to other leprosy victims of the Colony and 1pair of M.C.R. Chappals every year. They live happily in the Project and are thankful to God. They are grateful to AMG & Donors for helping them to regain their self-respect and dignity.
Three male and two female children of the inmates have married during the period under report. Two male and three female inmates died due to old age or prolonged diseases. New patients were taken in the place of demised leprosy victims.
LEPROSY REHABILITATION CLINIC:-
There is a separate Clinic in the project for treatment of leprosy victims and their dependents. Inmates of the Project availed treatment at the Clinic for 12,859 times during the period June 2008 to May 2009. A total No. of 10,986 dressings were made to inmates during the above period.
FREE CLINIC FOR NORMAL PATIENTS OF SURROUNDING VILLAGES:-
There is a Free Clinic for medical treatment of villagers from 9 surrounding villages. They are given medicines free of cost at this Free Clinic. On an average, 40 villagers come to the clinic daily. Total 3,753 patients from surrounding villages availed treatment at the hospital during the period June 2008 to May 2009.
HOSPITAL AND FREE CLINIC STAFF:-
One qualified Doctor and 2 A.N.Ms are in the clinic. In addition to them, some leprosy victims work as Hospital Workers, such as Dressers, O.P. Assistants etc. Normal people from surrounding villages, who come for medical treatment interact with the leprosy victims, thus enabling the leprosy victims to get rid of their social stigma and live on equitable terms with the normal people.
AGRICULTURAL FARM:-
AMG Bethsaida is spread over 38 acres of land. Out of this, we have set apart 28 acres of land for agricultural purpose. Normally, we grow paddy in the agricultural land. This crop is dependent on rainfall. We have sowed paddy seedlings in 25 acres. This year, the monsoon was near-normal. Hence, we could sow and reap a good crop of paddy, cereals, vegetables, etc. We have a plantain grove in a strip of two acres. We have also sowed red gram in a strip of two acres. Cattle feed is raised in one acre.
We are also raising vegetables such as lady fingers, brinjals, beans, tomatoes etc. Some of the vegetables grown in the agricultural farm are supplied to the Custodial Care Unit kitchen and to AMG Residential Hostel, Bheemunipatnam. The farm is ploughed with the Project tractor. The driver of the tractor is a cured leprosy victim of the Project.
There are 26 she-buffaloes, and 6 he-buffaloes. All of them are fully grown and there are 6 calves in the Project. Of the 26 she-buffaloes, 8 are milk-yielding. Some of the rehabilitated leprosy victims, who work as Agricultural Workers attend to the cultivation works of the AMG Agricultural Farm.
TRICYCLES:- 2 tricycles belonging to the inmates were worn out. We provided help to these inmates for repairing their bicycles.
ARTIFICIAL LIMBS:-
One leprosy patient underwent “below the knee” amputation. The leprosy victims prefer to acquire artificial limbs, which are supplied at Leprosy Hospitals at Salur and Jaipur, Rajasthan State. We extend financial help to such of those, who go there for artificial limbs.
Artificial limbs were given to 2 patients, whose artificial limbs are damaged due to wear and tear. A few others were also given financial help for repairing their own artificial limbs, which were procured by them in the earlier years.
EYE SURGERIES AND EYE TEST:-
Leprosy victims, who are affected with eye complications are referred to the Regional Eye Hospital, Visakhapatnam. They are provided necessary treatment/surgery at the Hospital. This year 4 Leprosy victims underwent surgeries for removal of cataract. Another 7 Leprosy victims were provided financial help by AMG for procuring spectacles for setting right their ophthalmic disorders.
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