Taxila Christian Hospital

The Taxila Christian Hospital, 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 most major eye care facilities in Pakistan.[3][5]

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][6]

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.[7][8][9]

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

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