Miao: More than 4 million people in India’s north-eastern extreme are expected to benefit from a hospital the Catholic Church is building at Injan village in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
“The beautiful hospital building is ready. The Sisters are moved in and ready. Now all we need to purchase the necessary medical equipment and beds,” says Bishop George Palliparambil, the first prelate of Miao Catholic diocese that covers the eastern region of the northeastern Indian state.
The Salesian prelate says the Krick and Bourry Hospital “will be the only hospital in a region of 16,971 sq. miles with a population of 4 million.”
The hospital is named after the first two Catholic missionaries to enter the region. Fathers Krick and Bourry, who were on their way to Tibet, were killed in Somme village in Arunachal Pradesh by the Mishmi Chief Kaisha on August 2, 1854. The process of their canonization has already started and they are now called the Servants of God.
Sisters of the Sacred Heart from Palai, Kerala have already arrived to manager the hospital. Their convent was blessed on April 14.
Bishop Palliparambil says the opening of the hospital, which has been under construction for the past few years, will be a landmark event in the history of Miao diocese. The 64-year-old bishops says they hope to open the hospital in 2016.
Longri, a member of Zilla Parishad, Khrsang, who was present for the opening of the convent, said lack of proper medical facility has been a great concern for the local people. “I am very happy the convent is inaugurated today and we all hope that the new hospital will be a reality soon,” she added.
The woman leader said people are eagerly waiting for the opening of the hospital.
People from Miao and Neotan also attended the convent opening ceremonies.
Bishop Palliparambil says the hospital requires another US$200,000 to buy equipment.