In 1999 the Kiwis’ Medical Dispensary opened its doors to the people of Siliguri and the surrounding vicinity of more than 700 villages. With five treatments rooms and ten beds, a staff of five including a doctor and medical support team, the Dispensary cares for more than 14,000 people every year.

As there is no government aid, the drugs and supplies are purchased locally – totally supported from New Zealand donations. The medical centre is available to all people, with some travelling from up to 15kms away to receive treatment.

Dispensary medical team

One of the major problems was the high neo-natal death rate in the area. Since the Dispensary opening, not one baby has died as a result of complications in childbirth.

The local people are treated and educated in health and hygiene at the Medical Dispensary and at teaching sessions held in surrounding villages.

The location of this clinic is the village of New Rangia. There are 13 villages close by and a further 50 villages within a radius of 20km, within travelling distance by the mobile team. The team has been influential in reaching out to these villages. Almost 80% of the people in these villages are living below the poverty line and most of them depend on the riverbed and agricultural work for their income. Almost 20% of them earn income by pulling rickshaws in the 40 degree heat. They earn only 35 rupees ($1 NZ) per day.

Hebzebah Dispensary

One day a week is allocated for travelling in the ambulance to outer villages to attend to medical needs and medical education. With the use of the ambulance the team has been able to reach out to almost 700 villages surrounding the clinic.