Taxila Christian Hospital
The Taxila Christian Hospital, also known as Christian Hospital Taxila, is a hospital in Taxila, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located on 30 acres adjacent to the remnants of the Gandhara civilization.[1][2]
History
Taxila Christian Hospital was founded in 1920 by the Presbyterian Church of the United States.[1][2] In 1921, a piece of land was acquired which was located roughly 20 miles west of Rawalpindi.[1] 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.[1]
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.[1]
Until the late 1940s, the hospital served as a healthcare provider to the local community.[1] The focus shifted towards ophthalmology with the arrival of Dr. Norval Christy and Dr. Kargaard in 1947.[1]
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.[4][5]
References
- Iqbal, Amjad (January 15, 2017). "The eye hospital that survived blind hatred". DAWN.COM.
- "Pakistan's missionary hospitals look for donors to expand healthcare services". Arab News PK. December 15, 2019.
- "WHO gives warning on failing Palestinian health - The Lancet" (PDF).
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2002/08/09/4-die-in-attack-on-christian-hospital-in-pakistan/0ce0913b-78c8-43ba-a5df-df385222ec32/
- "Four killed in grenade attack near Islamabad". August 9, 2002 – via The Guardian.