Nurse makes a difference in the slums of India

3:40pm Thursday 25th September 2008

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WHEN 20-year-old Elizabeth Gough left Droitwich Spa for India in the late 60s little could have prepared her for the life she would now lead.

Elizabeth could never have guessed the people and problems she would face on a daily basis or the cultural changes she would help to bring about.

Now, 40 years on, she is Elizabeth Prakash, after her marriage to Professor Amod Prakash, who she followed to India all those years ago, and she has told of her work helping to defy India’s ancient caste system.

Nurse Elizabeth moved to India to settle down and start a family, which she did for the best part of 30 years, raising three daughters.

Despite a number of humanitarian projects during this time, it took a chance connection with a church from her former home town to change her path – and in doing so the lives of thousands of others.

In 1998 the Spa’s Sacred Heart church, which is in Worcester Road, approached Elizabeth in search of a project members could support.

She quickly suggested charitable trust Ashray, set up by friend Father Francis in the early 80s, before then assisting with the project herself.

With the funds raised by the church’s justice and peace group, the trust was able to erect a building to house a hospital and school in Nagwa, an urban slum in Varanasi in northern India.

“We care for the untouchables. Other people will not look after them because they are very very poor and at the bottom of the pile to many,” said Elizabeth.

“The area is rife with TB and eye troubles and an array of other difficulties. Many are starving and cannot afford medical help and proper food.

“They have no help from the government and hospitals will not treat them because of the caste system,” said Elizabeth.

However, the centre does not turn people away and helps thousands of patients in the heart of the community.

“It treats men and women, young and old, and puts people side-by-side regardless of their religion and background – a move that sets it aside from common Indian practice.

Elizabeth has also set up a school above the health centre. “We also want to educate people about their bodies, how to look after themselves and prevent the spread of infections.

“We help children with school work, extra classes and give them something to aim for,” she added.

One of the most staggering developments that the health centre has brought about is the cultural changes and changes in mind-set of people who use the facility. “On one occasion, when a villager needed hospital treatment that was too expensive, “I asked my volunteers to go from house to house and ask them how much they would like to donate for one of their own,” said Elizabeth.

“This was a first for these people, they have never been asked for anything before, it was something that just wasn’t done. They all gave what they could. The real surprise for everyone was that in another village they also wanted to donate and were shouting that they too were good enough to help. It is unheard of in such places for this to happen.”

This is just one of the many individual stories that Elizabeth has experienced during her work. However, she is now appealing to other groups across Droitwich to come forward and support Ashray and follow the Sacred Heart church’s example.

“They have guaranteed us a set amount over the next three years, but we need thousands more. We need to help these people,” said Elizabeth.

“Here when we are having a hard time with money we run the car less or make a few cutbacks, but in Nagwa it means that people starve. It is a matter of life or death. It is a simple fine line that they face every day.

“We do what we can, are proud of how far we have come and have many projects planned. But we need more help to keep changing the way these people are looked at and to improve their lives.

Droitwich has been a fantastic town to these people, we hope it can continue to help.”

Anyone interested in the work of the charity or donating funds should visit www.ashray.org