The Organisation
Traditional Healthcare is a charity organisation that is vitally inspired by human generosity and the desire to support those most in need of medical help. This simple motivating force has allowed the charity to grow into an international organisation which draws on both local and international practitioners. With a focus on acupuncture and naturopathic healthcare, patients are currently traveling up to 2-3 days to be treated within the charity hospital located outside the village of Datam in the state of Jharkhand.
As the success and reputation of the healthcare centre grows, so to do patient numbers, and an international interest and involvement in the work carried out by the charity. The Traditional Healthcare clinic complex, which is currently part completed, includes a two story inpatient ward, a learning centre and a two story building for student / internship accommodation. Funding local acupuncture apprenticeships is also at the heart of the Tradition Healthcare charity as a way of creating a self supporting system of health within local communities. The scope of the organisation is not limited to the clinic centre, as groups from the charity also travel out into the wider community to meet the needs of the area.
The charity also takes on graduate acupuncturist from around the world providing long and short term internships at the clinic. While providing an income for the hospital it also gives a rare opportunity for graduate and experienced acupuncturists to come in contact with some of the most challenging medical conditions and gives them a deeper understanding of what is possible within the sphere of healing. With the nearest medical hospital many miles away, and the journey often being a great financial burden for humble rural people, the centre is called upon to deal with the most acute emergencies as well as more severe long term chronic degenerative diseases.
The People of Traditional Healthcare
Dada Bishwanath Sing
Dada Bishwanath Sing began life as a monk for 18 years with Ananda Marga. There he managed the acupuncture clinic setup to treat people in need. When the opportunity to build a clinic in his hometown arose, he removed himself from the order so that he could treat the local people of Datam and it’s surrounding areas. Dada pasted away in 2020 and is now behind the charity in spirit.
Tom Connor
Tom Connor started his career as a viticulturist. Growing grapes through conventional methods he suffered from chemical exposure, which led him to explore traditional Chinese medicine. His training in Chinese medicine brought him to Datam where he setup Traditional Healthcare India to develop a sustainable community healthcare facility. Co Founder of Jing Healthcare and President of the Jing Foundation.
Tasja Fox
Tasja Fox began her studies in 1999 and is a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine. She furthered her studies at ACNME in functional, nutritional medicine and is the co founder of the Traditional Healthcare India, and the co founder of Jing healthcare.
Tapan Kumar
Tapan has been involved in Tradition Healthcare from the very beginning and is one of the central members of the local team, both treating patients and organising the business and logistical affairs of the charity. Tapan has focused on Tung and Tan style of acupuncture.
Sanjiban Mahato
Sanjiban is a local acupuncture practitioner working full-time at the clinic and is an instrumental part of the Traditional Healthcare team. Sanjiban has focused on both Tung and Tan styles of acupuncture.
Divakar Mahato
Divakar has been working within the clinic of a number of years, treating and supporting patients within the Traditional Healthcare hospital.
Bhagya Ranjan Mahato
Bhagya is an experienced Indian acupuncture assistant and has been working for many years within The Acupuncture Institute of Ananda Nagar as well as Traditional Healthcare India. He is a valuable member of the charity organisation.
Simon Williamson
Simon is a licensed acupuncturist and naturopath practicing in the UK. He first visited the Indian charity in 2019 and was inspired by its impact on the local community. Simon has setup the Traditional Healthcare charity within the UK.
Eva Martinez
Eva has been working as a medical profession all her life and is a licensed acupuncturist and naturopath practicing in the UK. She has traveled extensively working for various charity organisations across the globe. Eva has helped setup the Traditional Healthcare charity in the UK.
Takeshi
Takeshi is a dedicated member of Tradition Healthcare team focused on capturing the essential flavour of the charity, while he himself being a symbol devotion to the higher goals of the organisation.
Indu Mahato
At the heart of every great selfless community venture invariably lies the silent conductor, supporting all that goes on from the deeper waters. Indu is no less than this, giving strength to the spark of inspiration within Traditional Healthcare. She has been receiving the volunteers into her care since the charity began.
Vision for the Year Ahead
Even though some of the building works at the clinic centre have not yet been finalised, for many years now the charity has been treating patients within the security of one of the buildings at the complex. The organisation has proved its legitimacy as a working model of healthcare in rural India, and because of its success, it has become a place favoured by both local and regional people as a centre offering effective affordable treatment and care. Looking forward always involves maintaining the current level of service within the community while building on what the Traditional Healthcare is able to offer.
For the next year the charity, with the help of the community, is looking to;
Complete various building works at the centre
Employ another full-time local acupuncturist
Further develop the system of permaculture at the centre in readiness for next years volunteers
Establish further educational initiatives including apprenticeships and permaculture development within the community
Long Term Vision for the Organisation
The trajectory of Traditional Healthcare is only limited by the organisations imagination. With its fundamental motivations rooted in the health and wellness of humanity, its simple functioning model of integrated holistic healthcare could easily be taken to any underprivileged community throughout the world.