Association of Medical Doctors of ASIA, founded in 1984, Consultative Status with UN ECOSOC since 1995

On 13 November 2022, AMDA Peace Clinic (APC) in Bodhgaya, India celebrated its 14th anniversary since its establishment in 2009. APC has been focusing on the healthcare of mothers and children in the locality, with a strong emphasis on the health management of pregnant women who need antenatal and postpartum care.

The clinic has been serving the local community by providing regular health-related programs, which include weekly nutritional guidance and health education, as well as bi-monthly maternal health checkups conducted by local obstetricians. Most of the programs have been offered for free. In addition, APC’s medical staff have been carrying out home visits on a regular basis to provide support to local pregnant women, giving health consultations as needed.

Between January and October 2022, 59 pregnant women were registered at APC. During that time, a cumulative total of 780 mothers-to-be visited the clinic, of whom 198 participated in the nutritional guidance and health education workshops. As for the home visit, APC’s medical staff usually visit up to five families per day to care for expectant mothers. The team tries to listen as attentively as they can to the concerns of those women, and give advice on mental and physical sides of maternal health.

In some cases, women have difficulty receiving ultrasound checkups (which doctors recommend they take at least three times during their pregnancy) due to their financial situations or their family members’ lack of understanding. In order to support these women, AMDA has been covering part of the fees, as healthy labor and early detection of potential problems concerning babies have been APC’s top priority.

On the day of the nutritional workshop, rare fruits (which the women usually cannot have) or dishes high in nutrients (which they can try to cook for themselves at home) are provided. *If they wish, women can take the dishes home, as APC has been trying to lighten the financial burden on families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

(*For the time being, APC makes sure women refrain from having meals on the spot because of the pandemic.)

“The clinic gives us tips on how to care for ourselves during our pregnancy, and this has put me at ease,” one of the women said with a smile. Another woman said, “Trying out these recipes at home will surely help me eat better and make my baby grow healthier.”

APC hopes to continue serving local pregnant women by providing programs that benefit the well-being of mothers and babies. For 2023, the clinic will be launching a weekly meal assistance program for impoverished residents in the area.