First major seminar for Raven Foundation

Childhood illness - and cancer, in particular - is an emotive area, yet it is a real problem in rural India and a major cause of death in village communities in Rajasthan, where there are currently few facilities for diagnosis or treatment.

As part of our commitment to providing treatment to rural communities The Raven Foundation will be offering specialist services in this field, since treatments are becoming more available and accessible in India.

Both Deepak and Charlotte realize that part of the commitment to the community that they will be serving is to provide support and health education to local people, so that issues such as childhood cancer can be addressed early enough to facilitate treatment, and hopefully, cure.

Deepak is already engaged in looking at specialist areas where The Raven Foundation can make a difference and as he says: “The advancement in this field (childhood cancer) includes early diagnosis by investigation and availability of new and effective drugs, bone marrow/stem cell transplants and regular blood transfusions.”

He adds: “We have already been talking to specialist Oncologists and surgeons in this field and they are ready to provide their services for this noble cause. And, the blood banks/pharmaceutical companies are ready to provide blood/drugs at cheaper price.”

We will be hosting our first specialist seminar for The Raven Foundation on this issue – Childhood Cancer and Effective Treatment Strategy - on 18^th April, when Charlotte will have arrived from overseas. And we look forward to welcoming doctors and specialists from the local community.

We also welcome feedback from our followers and fans on this emotive subject, but would like to stress that our basic aims and objectives remain the same:

· T *To promote the concept: better health means greater security and wealth

· T *To teach the concept: “PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE”

· T *To educate the village people of Rajasthan about the importance of nutrition and diet in relation to health matters

· T**To conduct health camps in the villages

· T**To promote the status of women’s health care

· T*To provide an understanding of the importance of good health for existing and future generations

· T**To educate villagers in the importance of nutrition and diet in relation to health matters

Filling in the gaps!

Here's the latest picture from Rajasthan and this is how the hospital looks right now! We're filling in the gaps and you can all see the progress in the picture above. So more thanks to Deepak and his team in India!

I was supposed to be going to India this coming week, but have had to cancel because of the British Airways strike, but will be there in April, so more news when I arrive.

Charlotte

Raising the roof!

This is the latest picture just arrived from India, showing the first-floor roof, which has been cast this week! So work is really going fast now and we're right on schedule with construction - and very special thanks to both Deepak and Hetal Amin, who has been helping us on site! More photographs later, but just wanted to let readers have an update ...

Picture update - to show how far we've come!

Just a quick collage to show you how work is progressing, with the latest picture in the centre. We've come from an empty plot (top centre), to digging for water, installing electricity, the puja (top left) and laying of the foundation stone; beginning construction, putting the roof on the ground floor .... and now work on the first floor is in full swing (centre).

Onwards and upwards ... work on first floor

Hope that you have all had a peaceful time during the holiday season. As we get to the end of December, you can see that work is progressing really well on the hospital and that construction is no going ahead on the first floor. This is how the building looks right now and Deepak has just sent these photographs from India.

I was there just a month ago (in fact I landed in Delhi on 28th November) and you can see how work has progressed since our last blog entry. We are hoping to have the roof on the first floor by the end of the month and will keep you posted, so do check in again later this week.

We would also like to say a big thank you to all who have donated over the holiday period - every penny counts and we are very grateful to all our benefactors! We are now looking at names for the hospital, and would like to hear from any of you who have suggestions.

Deepak and Charlotte

All this in a week!!

In just a week, the hospital has got its first-floor roof! It's incredible... so I'm not going to write a long entry here, just show you the pictures.

29th November 2009 - only left wing constructed

30th November 2009 - showing construction of right wing

3rd December 2009 - both wings constructed

5th December 2009 - cement being carried to the roof

5th December 2009 - smoothing the cement on the roof

Just arrived in Udaipur!

I've just arrived from England and have visited our site to see how building is progressing - and progressing it is as you will see from these pictures. I will be giving a full update in the next couple of days, so will leave you with these images in the meantime.

Dr Deepak Babel (right) on site with the contractors