Health Apostolate

Our Diocese is grateful to different religious congregations who have engaged themselves wholeheartedly for health ministry. There are 44 dispensaries in our Diocese catering to 76,778 people. We have no good Christian Medical hospital in the Diocese. I am planning gradually to open a few hospitals to render quality health service, that is the aspiration of people over here. Tuberculosis is rampant in the hills. Many people die of this disease inspite of care that religious sisters are providing. Now HIV/AIDS has become another dreaded disease which needs to be addressed to. Main reason for the spread of HIV/AIDS is mainly through drug abuse using needles, flying sex trade due to tourism, unsafe migration to the metro cities and the lack of awareness among the general population. For those who are already affected and dying,  St. Joseph’s of Cluny sisters have already started a hospice in Kalimpong subdivision which has given some relief to the HIV+ people. The Diocese is also starting a Community Care Centre for HIV+ people in Darjeeling Municipality area itself.