The Jibhi CHAI team enjoyed hosting the graduation for seventeen women who have become community health workers at our Jibhi Clinic on Saturday 17 March 2007.The event was held in the Lady Willingdon Hospital Clinic, Jibhi and was attended by all the women except Manorma who couldn’t come because of a closed road.

Each woman invited two people from their village and it was good to share the graduation with people who will be beneficiaries of the programme. From Lady Willingdon Hospital Manali Dr. Philip Alexander (medical superintendent), Dr. George Verghese, (director rural programmes) and Dr. Anna Alexander came to the event as well as Rajinder Chauhan from the local NGO SAHARA which coordinates the activities of many of the health workers.

Dr. Jeph Mathias, Jibhi team leader, welcomed guests and acknowledged financial support which has made this programme possible, notably from My Himachal, the New Zealand High Commission in Delhi and Mr Payson Stevens from Ghyagi. He went on to thank LWH Manali for continuing human resource and logistic support and the entire Jibhi team for their commitment to the programme. Dr George Verghese gave an overview of the history of the Jibhi clinic from the days of walking around hills with bags of medications and clinics on a sheet of plastic run on the roadside. Rajinder talked about a wider vision of health and Dr. Philip Alexander about the relationship of the Jibhi clinic to the Manali hospital and the possibilities for the future. The speeches were interspersed with songs and health role plays by the Jibhi team. Finally Drs Alexander and Verghese presented certificates.

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With My Himachal President, Dr. Bhugol Chandel’s continuous efforts, a bridge on Gobind Sagar is sanctioned by Himachal government. A 330 meter long double laned motorable bridge would be constructed at a cost of Rs. 48 crore to connect Talwad and Beri Darolan in district Bilaspur. The foundation stone of the bridge will be laid by the Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh on 23rd March during Nalwar fair.

When completed, the construction of this bridge is going to benefit people of Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Kangra districts. “We visioned the construction of this bridge in 1984 to help development of the area “, said Dr. Chandel. During his last visit to India meeting with Himachal Chief Minister and forest minister Ram Lal Thakur he asked Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to start the construction work of this bridge during this year.

“We are thankful to present government of Virbhadra Singh and its developmental policies for the rural areas,” said Dr. Chandel. Dr. Chandel gives credit of this achievement to continuous support of fellow Himachalis via My Himachal discussion forum and emails. He also thanks people and local political leaders from Bilaspur behind this endeavor. This bridge was his life dream and he congrats everyone associated with this initiative.