Vellore, India

Location

Vellore is a city of 3.5 million, located in the southern province of Tamilnadu, India. Vellore is an ancient agricultural and trading center, surrounded by hills. Today, it is a modern city by Indian standards, with rough and occasionally paved roads, many busses and bicycles, many temples, grocery stores, and many little shops selling fabrics, paper supplies, and jewelry. Smells are strong at times. Agriculture is the main occupation and source of income in this area of Tamilnadu. Most of the wetland agriculture is accomplished using human and animal power.

Vellore is a conservative city, and also known for religious tolerance due in part to the influence of the Vellore Christian Medical College & Hospital (VCMCH) in this predominately Hindu community. Seasons are similar to the southern United States, and the summers that last from April through October are very hot. Many Indians do not recommend visitors come during the oppressive heat of summer time.

Transportation International flights arrive into the city of Chini. A driver from VCMCH will meet arriving visitors, though this person may speak little English. Most international flights arrive late at night. Therefore, it is recommended spending the first night at the Chini YWCA, at a cost of about $30 US, and then driving to VCMC the next day. The trip from Chini to Vellore requires about three hours.

Visa Requirement US residents must acquire visa in advance before entering India. Information about how to obtain a visa is available on the Embassy of India website: http://www.indianembassy.org. INMED students studying at VCMCH should obtain a “Tourist Visa.”

Traveler’s Health & Safety Please check the CDC travel website for the most up-to-date information by visiting http://www.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. Mosquitoes are common in Vellore, though malaria is rare.

Visitors are advised to regularly check the U.S. State Department website for the most up-to-date information regarding travel advisories: http://www.state.gov/travelandbusiness

Facility Vellore Christian Medical College & Hospital is a full-service, state of the art medical care facility. Its services include surgical subspecialties, neonatology, in vitro fertilization, invasive cardiology, bone marrow and kidney transplant, CT and MRI, in addition to mainstream internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics. In 2002, 40,000 inpatients were served, as were some 600,000 outpatients. VCMCH also has a network of smaller hospitals in the area that provide more basic primary and secondary care medical services. Separate facilities around Vellore also specialize in eye care, rehabilitation, leprosy and other specialty care.

The staff includes 500 physicians and 1500 nurses. VCMCH has a strong commitment to education, and 60 new medical students are enrolled each year. Graduate and Ph.D. degree programs are also offered in an active research environment. Additionally, VCMCH trains nurses, therapists, pharmacists, laboratory specialists, and other health professionals.

VCMCH enjoys an amazing history. One eventful night in the late 1800s, Ida Scudder, the young granddaughter of William Carey, was asked to help three young women struggling in difficult childbirth. Without training at that time, she could do nothing. Ida was shocked to learn the next morning that all three women had died. She accepted this as a calling set before her by God to ministry to the health needs of India people. She returned to America and became one of the first women to graduate from Cornell Medical School. Ida started VCMCH in 1900 as a one-bed dispensary, which has now grown to 2000 beds in several campuses.

Dr. Ida S. Scudder founded VCMCH with the motto, “Not to be ministered unto but to minister.” She also embraced a leadership approach that has inspired the institution for the last one hundred years. Scudder wrote, “For CMC Vellore to survive in the long run, it has to be Indian owned, Indian managed, able to meet most of its budget from local funds and be relevant for the changing needs of India”.

Website Extensive details about VCMCH can be found at http://cmch-vellore.edu/

Patients People come to VCMCH from all over India, though the majority are from the local area, and make a living through agriculture or small businesses. Many are very poor, and most do not speak either of the national languages, Hindi and English. Majority of the patients still live in villages, in brick or mud houses with thatch roof.

Medical Staff The teaching staff at VCMCH tends to be younger in age. They represent all major medical specialties, and many are nationally and internationally recognized authorities in their respective fields. Many of the staff spends about one-third of their time in patient care, one-third in teaching, and one-third in research activities.

Language Requirement All staff at VCMCH speak English. Translation assistance is available for communicating effectively with non-English speaking patients.

Student Experience Health profession students may choose to study any number of disciplines at VCMCH, depending upon their particular interests. A large number of students from Denmark, Sweden, Israel, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Myanmar and other countries are trained at VCMCH. A new relationship was established with the Kansas University Medical Center in 2005 to regularly send KU students to study at VCMCH.

A remarkable community health experience is also available through VCMCH. Students make supervised home visits in low-income communities, collect health data, and participate in efforts to eliminate disease and disability. This community health program is credited to making remarkable progress in local health outcomes.

Student Lodging & Meals New housing complex is available for visitors in VCMCH in 2006, with modern hotel-like rooms. Power outages occur periodically. The Johnson House on campus provides meals. Some grocery stores in Vellore carry brand name foods also sold in the US. The campus has a bookstore, and a free bus provides transportation from the campus to the hospital. Visiting students may be paired with host families to enrichen the cultural experience.

Communication The housing complex has dialup Internet access. If a laptop computer is brought, wireless Internet access can occasionally be found.

Diversion Free time in Vellore is often spent shopping for silk and fabric, exploring the historic Vellore fort, and hiking the hills outlying the city. The city boasts of a movie theater, church on Sundays, plays on weekends, talent shows, and cricket fields. Some visitors leave on weekends to visit the coasts, or the cities of Bangalore or Chini.

Dress Men typically wear long pants or kaki slacks, no shorts. Sandals are worn by most everyone, but not closed toed shoes nor tennis shoes. Men do not wear neckties. Women wear long skirts or slacks with no legs showing at all. Tops should not be form fitting, or a scarf can be worn over a fitted top.

Clothes are inexpensive in Vellore, and can be readily bought. Given the environment, clothing becomes dirty quite easily and will need to be washed often.

What To Pack Travelers should pack a carry-on bag with essentials, including a change of clothes, just in case checked luggage becomes lost. Also, it’s usually best to bring two suitcases, each half full, to allow space to pack souvenirs for the return trip. Bring clothes appropriate for the weather.

While almost anything can be purchased in Vellore, be sure to bring a good bug spray and lots of it. Mosquitoes and flies are plentiful, and the local brands are rumored to be suboptimal.