Dr Abraham George, who studied medicine at CMC, was due to be running the London Marathon in April this year to raise funds for Friends of Vellore. Due to coronavirus this was postponed and the 40^th race is now taking place on Sunday 4^th October with runners running the 26.2 miles in their local area. Abraham will run in his hometown of Norwich.

Abraham is running in aid of our project at CMC’s Low Cost Effective Care Unit. For more information and to sponsor him, see his fundraising page here.

The Low Cost Effective Care Unit (LCECU) aims to provide quality but low cost care to the poorest inhabitants of Vellore. Patients pay a nominal amount for registration, and then are only charged for drugs and investigations – even those charges are according to the individual’s ability to pay. Weekly clinics in the main slum area of Vellore get medical support to the very poorest. Typically those living in slum areas will not seek medical help, thinking it is unavailable or too expensive.

Community Health Worker, Alfred with a patient

We are currently funding a £30,000 project over five years to strengthen the outreach services of LCECU through community health workers. The community health workers work in the slum areas of Vellore town, educating the community to improve health and prevent illness, acting as the interface between the community and the unit, and enabling referrals to the hospital where necessary.

If you would like to support Abraham and this very worthwhile project, you can make a donation on his fundraising page here.