Citta Newsletter

Professor Rajmohan Ghandi and his publisher are donating proceeds from sales at the book launch of his biography of his grandfather, Mahatma Ghandi, to support CITTA's Orissa Project. Michael Daube, executive director and founder of CITTA, was present in London on the 23rd of July to help sell this new definitive biography of Ghandi, as well as to press the case for supporting Citta's projects in Orissa. More information about Professor Ghandi's biography of Ghandi can be found at Hausbooks. If you were unable to make it to London, but would like to support the Orissa Project, why not support a student for a year?

The Juanga Hospital has recently received a gift which will transform the hospital’s ability to offer comprehensive pre-natal care to tens of thousands of patients. A generous contribution by Patricia and Monolo Senillosa of Barcelona, Spain, has allowed us to purchase a state of the art Turbo & Lason ultrasound machine.

Since Orissa’s rural areas suffer the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in India, this equipment will be a lifesaving device for many women. The ultra-sound can also be used to provide information on a variety of other complications as well. Our deepest thanks to Patricia and Monolo Senillosa!

Due to your support, CITTA has expanded the Juanga Hospital’s ability to meet the growing needs of the Orissa region. With the addition of a dental ward and an operating theatre, the Juanga Hospital is becoming a beacon of hope to those with more severe conditions, and now serves a population of approximately 100,000 villagers.

We are proud to announce that after a long and thorough search, CITTA has found the perfect candidate to lead the Juanga Hospital, Dr. Gauranga Singh. Having grown up in a nearby village with no electricity, Dr. Singh is well acquainted with the hardships and inconveniences faced in the rural areas of Orissa. He attended the Cuttack SCB Government Medical Collage where he received his M.B.B.S. (Bachelors on Medicine).

Dr. Singh will reside at the hospital so he is able to care for emergency patients on a 24-hour basis. We are very pleased to have Dr. Singh join our efforts!

A note from CITTA's founder and executive director, Michael Daube.

"Greetings from Kathmandu! Last night was a most amazing experience. CITTA Nepal, spearheaded by Dr. Yeshe Lodoe, held a fund raising event in Kathmandu for the Humla hospital, the Gaikhur Clinic and the Women's Center. It's not actually possible to raise mountains of rupees from locals, but we hoped the event would raise awareness in the Kathmandu Valley about CITTA's work, while helping us build local support for our programs.

I have never experienced a board set up on the receiving end of funds undertake such an event to create local awareness! There were many famous local singers and performers that donated their time to the event. A few people that work for other Non-Governmental Organizations here came as well.

One Nepali representative for Amics de Nepal (a Spanish organization) said that what we have created in Humla is amazing from the point of view of the NGO sector here. Due to the high cost of living, extreme poverty, virtual inaccessibility of the region, and the absence of any permanent government health programs in the district, no other NGO has attempted to develop programs in the area. If she only knew the budget we actually had to make such a project, she would be even more shocked! We should all be proud to be part of such a development."

Newsletter Contents•••••
This short movie takes a brief look at the Humla area and the ongoing need to acquire additional medical equipment.
watch the demo

Top of the Class!
Biswajeet Das, a 10-year-old student at Juanga School, has been awarded a certificate for being a top ranking student in the prestigious Orissa State Education Competition. Biswajeet scored in the top 3 percent of the 200 highest ranking students in his district.

Here is a note of thanks Biswajeet wrote to the school sponsorship program:

“Hi. I am Biswajeet. I come from the village of Sundarda. I stand third and sometimes second position in our class and am a scholarship student. My father is a daily laborer. I am a good student and have ambition to gain higher education but my family is not capable of providing me that facility due to our poor financial condition. I want to be an engineer in the future. I like to play basketball and to eat sweets.”

If you are interested in sponsoring one of these energetic students, please click here to find out how you can participate in our Sponsor a Child program.