Renowned Indian Doctor tours NZ: how to break child poverty

World renowned Indian Doctor to tour New Zealand sparking interest on how to break child poverty

9th May, 2012

Dr. Sujit Brahmochary, the founder and director of the Institute for Indian Mother and Child (IIMC), an NGO based in South Calcutta, will tour New Zealand next week speaking at Medical schools and with various community groups on the importance of a multidimensional approach to breaking the cycle child of poverty. Dr Sujit has worked closely with figures such as Mother Teresa as her chief medical advisor for a number of years and his efforts have made him a world expert on means to overcome child poverty. He has spoken at international conferences across Europe and was the keynote speaker at the Global Health Forum in Geneva.

MSGA spokesperson and 4th year Otago medical student, Stephanie Kamp, volunteered with Dr Sujit’s organistion last summer in Calcutta. Kamp says “ he is a passionate speaker inspiring the young minds of New Zealanders to think globally and enticing them to volunteer with the organisation in India”.

IIMC was founded in 1989 by Dr Sujit and has now grown to include 25 schools that serve over 2,500 children, some of whom are sponsored through an IIMC child sponsorship programme; 8 free rural health clinics that serve over 70,000 patients each year; a microcredit lending programme to give poor women a start in business; a disabled children's respite centre; and, women's empowerment and peace project centres in many rural villages. It is a working model for holistic human development that is successfully improving the lives of thousands living in the poorest parts of rural Calcutta.

Every month 20+ University students from around the world studying health, economics, education, or social development volunteer their time to work in the health clinics or on projects in other aspects of the organisation. The diversity of the challenges faced, makes the experience confronting, yet rewarding for the volunteers, says Kamp. She says her time there was “…a transformational experience that will impact on the way I will practice medicine in New Zealand.”

Dr Sujit will be speaking about the mission of breaking child poverty in his brief tour of New Zealand and members of the public are warmly invited to attend these sessions.

Auckland: Monday 14th May, 6 p.m. University of Auckland, city campus, Library, basement lecture theatre 15
Dunedin: Wednesday 16th May, 1p.m. University of Otago, Medical School, Colloque lecture theatre
Christchurch: Thursday 17th May, 12 noon, ground floor, Trust Bank Lounge, Netball
Centre
Thursday 17th May 7p.m. Christ the King Parish Hall, 90 Greers Rd
Wellington: Friday 18th May, Venue and time to be confirmed

ENDS

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