The Taxila Christian Hospital (Urdu: ٹیکسلا کرسچن ہسپتال), 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]
| Taxila Christian Hospital | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Taxila, Punjab, Pakistan, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 33°44′46″N 72°48′12″E / 33.746018°N 72.803363°E |
| Organisation | |
| Care system | Public |
| Religious affiliation | Presbyterian Church of the United States |
| History | |
| Opened | 1920 |
| Links | |
| Website | chtaxila |
| Lists | Hospitals in Pakistan |
It is one of the largest eye care facilities in Pakistan.[5][6]
History
editTaxila 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][7]
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.[8][9][10]
References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ "Woman of vision: A life spent preventing blindness in Pakistan". Arab News PK. December 14, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g Iqbal, Amjad (January 15, 2017). "The eye hospital that survived blind hatred". Dawn.
- ^ a b "Pakistan's missionary hospitals look for donors to expand healthcare services". Arab News. December 15, 2019.
- ^ "کونال سٹوپا اور آنکھوں کی دو ہزار سال پرانی کہانی". Independent Urdu.
- ^ "WHO gives warning on failing Palestinian health - The Lancet" (PDF).
- ^ "Christian Hospital Taxila. | Pearl Digital Collections".
- ^ "4 Die in Attack on Christian Hospital in Pakistan". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
- ^ "Four killed in grenade attack near Islamabad". August 9, 2002 – via The Guardian.
- ^ "Corruption scandals rock Christian hospitals in Pakistan - UCA News". ucanews.com.