The Rotary and Prairie Bible Institute teamed up to give those struggling for basic medical care the resources they desperately need this past summer.
Becky Berdahl, an area resident, registered nurse, and practicum coordinator with Prairie Bible Institute took a team of seven nursing students to the impoverished areas of Hyderabad, India.
Accompanying them was a cheque for $2,360 from the Drumheller Rotary to be given to Operation Mercy India Foundation. The funds will go towards the purchase of much needed medical supplies.
“When they went there, they went into the slum areas,” said Rotary member Rachel Shiels. “They were able to stock 18 medical camps, so that will mean we serviced over 1800 people with our donation.”
Berdahl gave a presentation to the Drumhelle Rotary describing her experience aiding and teaching the local population the basics of health care and hygiene.
“They said to us that it was great we sent money, but they said money can’t replace the fact we took our time and went over there to help and teach them,” said Becky Berdahl.
The group went to schools to teach and had a mobile health clinic to aid the locals, many who occupied the lowest rung in the caste system of India, the Dalits.
“It’s [the caste system] hard for us to understand. It’s based on your occupation, where you were born, or how you hold yourself. The caste system considers the Dalits outcasts. They don’t even register in the caste system, which makes them lower than animals in some cases,” said Berdahl.
As a result of their low social standing, the Dalits have little to no access to fresh water or sanitation. The people had so little, it actually caused some issues when trying to help.
“When we tried to hand things to them, it caused chaos. We tried to calm them down and get them to form orderly lines, but they didn’t, because they have so little,” said Berdahl.
Not only were the locals affected by the efforts of Berdahl and her students, she talked about how she has changed from the experience.
“Even when we walked into a hospital there, it made us so thankful that all our equipment here is sterile. It was a huge challenge. When we would visit the hospitals there, the health care is not even close to what we would consider health care,” said Berdahl. “It made me really appreciate what we have here.”
Berdahl hopes to go back to India or Africa next summer to continue helping those in need.
Becky Berdahl (fourth from right) delivers a cheque for $2,360 from the Drumheller Rotary Club to Operation Mercy India Foundation. The money will go towards the purchase of much needed medical supplies to help some of India’s most impoverished people. Berdahl was joined by seven students of Prairie Bible Institute who helped give medical aid and teach about health care and hygiene.
photo submitted
