Taxila Christian Hospital Explained

Taxila Christian Hospital
Coordinates:33.746°N 72.8034°W
Location:Taxila, Punjab, Pakistan
Country:Pakistan
Healthcare:Public
Religious Affiliation:Presbyterian Church of the United States
Opened:1920

The Taxila Christian Hospital (Urdu: ٹیکسلا کرسچن ہسپتال), also known as Christian Hospital Taxila, is an eye hospital in Taxila, Punjab, Pakistan.[1] [2] It is located on 30 acres adjacent to the remnants of the Gandhara civilization.[3] [4]

It is one of the largest eye care facilities in Pakistan.[5] [6]

History

Taxila Christian Hospital was founded in 1920 by the Presbyterian Church of the United States.[3] [4] In 1921, a piece of land was acquired which was located roughly 20 miles west of Rawalpindi.[3] The acquisition process involved 23 separate deed transactions, with the landowners demanding payment in cash, resulting in the transportation of silver coins from Rawalpindi to Taxila via a bullock cart.[3]

The hospital's first surgical operation took place in 1922 inside a tent, conducted by Dr. Gregory Martin, with only a lantern for illumination and the assistance of an individual named Gordon.[3] [7]

Until the late 1940s, the hospital served as a healthcare provider to the local community.[3] The focus shifted towards ophthalmology with the arrival of Dr. Norval Christy and Dr. Kargaard in 1947.[3]

On August 9, 2002, a grenade attack on the hospital's chapel resulted in four fatalities, including two nurses and a paramedic, and injured 25 others.[8] [9] [10]

Notes and References

  1. EYE SURGERY IN TAXILLA, PAKISTAN. J: H.. Slade. August 20, 1984. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Ophthalmology. 12. 3. 285–287. CrossRef. 10.1111/j.1442-9071.1984.tb01169.x. free.
  2. Web site: Woman of vision: A life spent preventing blindness in Pakistan. December 14, 2019. Arab News PK.
  3. Web site: The eye hospital that survived blind hatred. Amjad. Iqbal. January 15, 2017. Dawn.
  4. Web site: Pakistan's missionary hospitals look for donors to expand healthcare services. December 15, 2019. Arab News.
  5. Web site: کونال سٹوپا اور آنکھوں کی دو ہزار سال پرانی کہانی . Independent Urdu.
  6. Web site: WHO gives warning on failing Palestinian health - The Lancet.
  7. Web site: Christian Hospital Taxila. | Pearl Digital Collections.
  8. News: 4 Die in Attack on Christian Hospital in Pakistan . en-US . Washington Post . 2023-07-17 . 0190-8286.
  9. Web site: Four killed in grenade attack near Islamabad. August 9, 2002. The Guardian.
  10. Web site: Corruption scandals rock Christian hospitals in Pakistan - UCA News. ucanews.com.