Devamatha Health Centre

Shukravarpet - Adoni - Andhra Pradesh

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History of the Community:

In the history of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbes, 21st November 1974 was an important date. The persistent call from the people of Andhra Pradesh came through Bishop Joseph Rajappa, then Bishop of the Kurnool Diocese. After studying the place, Sr. Pauline Lopez, the Provincial, accepted the invitation. Accompanied by Sr. Pauline Lopez, the Provincial, the pioneers Srs. Laetitia Menezes, Joachim Fernandes, Alicia Mampilli, and Nirmala P arrived in Adoni on 21st November 1974. Since the house for the sisters was not ready, they spent a month in the presbytery of St. Anthony’s Orphanage. Meanwhile, the construction work of the house was ongoing. The little dispensary began to function from 10th January 1975. A large number of villagers flocked to the sisters for the healing of various ailments. The sisters also went from house to house to meet and help those in need.

Shukravarpet is a little hamlet in Adoni village, surrounded by three other villages on three sides. The people of these villages are weavers, hunters, peasants, potters, shepherds, and Harijans. Few of them are Catholics. Strong feelings of caste and religion are prevalent among these otherwise simple people. Poverty-stricken families lived in their huts, deprived of all basic needs, with very poor sanitary conditions. On the other side, stood dry, solid rocks and arid fields. The sisters later extended their services by having a mobile clinic, carrying medicines to the villages to reach out to the sick.

Since the target was ‘Mother and Child Health Welfare’, a maternity home was built with 15 beds. A great number of children were suffering from malnutrition, and many died of malnutrition and communicable diseases. A daycare center (creche) was started for babies in the age group of 0-4. The center provided nutritious food for mothers and babies. The sisters started educating parents on hygiene, family welfare, childcare, education, and nutrition. During the family visits, the sisters discovered that 90% of the children did not go to school due to poverty and ignorance of the parents. So, evening coaching classes for the children were started. About 80-100 of them responded. The children were provided with food, clothes, study materials, etc. Side by side, regular catechism classes were held for the Catholic children.

Information on Various Apostolates: A Brief History:

We, the sisters, render our various services through the “Day Creche” for the children of daily wage earners, “Tuition for the Poor and Backward Children of our surroundings,” “Women Empowerment Programme” for the women in 9 villages, and the “Asha Drop-in Centre” for the support of the HIV/AIDS affected and infected urban and rural communities of Adoni Mandal. We also provide educational support to poor children in 12 villages of Adoni and Peddakadobur Mandals.

Creche: The poor people, around 30-40 families, leave their babies between the ages of 2-4 years from 9 am to 2:30 pm. They are provided with nourishing food, snacks, taught rhymes, alphabets, and play, and are allowed to take rest. At 2:30 pm, their mothers come and take them home.

Tuition: In the evening, from 5 pm to 7 pm, free tuition classes are held for students from 1st to 10th standard. Around 140 children benefit from this tuition, all of whom are from poor families. Two sisters and three teachers take keen interest in teaching the children. Free study materials, like notebooks and stationery, are provided for them, and during Christmas, clothes are distributed to the tuition children. National and religious festivals are celebrated at the center. Apart from tuition, other programs are held, such as Teachers’ Day and Children’s Day celebrations. Children are given opportunities to exhibit their talents. This program is extended to 10 other villages, where children are provided with study materials and stationery, and clothes are distributed during Christmas.

Women Empowerment Programme: In our social apostolate, we work for the empowerment of women. We have 65 Self-Help Groups in 9 villages of Adoni Mandal, benefiting around 650 women who are economically poor. The main focus of this program is to motivate and encourage women to save some amount from their daily earnings and build self-confidence to improve their lives.

During the year the following activities are conducted:

Educational support to the orphans and semi-orphans
Support to the elderly and destitute (providing basic necessities)
Awareness programme on Antenatal, Prenatal, and Postnatal care
Conducting medical camps
AIDS awareness programme
Women’s Day celebration
Family visits

Asha Drop-in Centre:

As the dreaded disease HIV/AIDS spreads, we extended our service to the HIV/AIDS affected and infected urban and rural communities of Adoni Mandal. Once the patients are identified, we conduct a meeting once a month at the Centre. We provide moral and medical support. We counsel them, encouraging them to be regular with their checkups and to take their medicines.