Medical Ministry International in India
Drs. Sharon and Chingkup Konyak
Dr. Sharon Konyak and Dr. Chingkup Konyak both completed the Ophthalmology Residency Training program at the Elias Santana Hospital in Dominican Republic. Following their graduation, they returned to their home country, India, to serve their people. Both Sharon and Chingkup work at the Mercy Eye Center in Tuensang, Nagaland, and are Project Directors for the Medical Ministry International teams that volunteer on projects there.
Patient Story: Sight Restored in Longphang
An elderly patient had come to the hospital escorted by her granddaughter, having been blind for a couple of years. She had her surgery, and the next day, when taking her patch off, she could immediately recognize the nurse taking off the patch. She started laughing and talking all at the same time. Her granddaughter was standing behind her and I was watching her. The patient turned her head to look up at her granddaughter and recognized her for the first time in a very long time, and she laughed even louder. I watched as the tears started rolling down the granddaughter’s face with pure joy. This patient could not stop laughing and talking all day, and her granddaughter would not leave her side. It was such a heartfelt simple moment to see just joy from both the patient and the granddaughter, such a sense of relief and joy for them both. It reminded me of how much we miss when we don’t appreciate the simple things, like how precious sight is, and how precious family is.
Project Sites:
Longphang, Tuensang, Nagaland
Nagaland is a state in the far north-eastern part of India. The state capital is Kohima and the largest city is Dimapur. Agriculture is the most important economic activity in Nagaland, so for many people it is their livelihood. Christianity is the predominant religion of Nagaland and it is known as a predominantly Baptist state. English is the official language. The terrain is mountaneous: 4500 feet above sea level.
* Project Description: These are optical and surgical projects. Patients are offered vision screenings, diagnosis, refractions, glasses, and surgeries. A collection of prescription eyeglasses will be available, along with reading glasses for those who require glasses after their consult. Longphang, Tuensang has a Primary Health Care Center which is run by a Christian NGO. It is strategically located 30km from Myanmar and 30km to tribal populations on either side, making it the only accessible health center for these people.
Elevation
1,371 m (4,498 ft)
Climate
Nagaland has a largely monsoon climate with high humidity levels. Annual rainfall averages around 2,000 mm, concentrated in the months of May to September. Temperatures can range from 5 °C to 40 °C.
Mon, Nagaland
Mon is the remotest district of Nagaland state in India, just 30 km from Indo-Myanmar borders. It is considered one of the most unreached places of the world, continually suppressed by the Indian government and Myanmar. Access to health care in the region is limited by inaccessibility and economic poverty. The region has a population of 250,671 and a literacy rate of 57%.
Mon is home to the Konyak Nagas, one of the largest tribes among the Nagas. The Konyaks are skilled craftsmen and artisans. Many of the Nagas have embraced Christianity, which has brought unity between tribes and an end to much tribal violence. Languages spoken in the area include tribal dialects as well as English.
* Project Description: These are optical and surgical projects. Patients are offered vision screenings, diagnoses, refractions, glasses, and surgeries. A collection of prescription eyeglasses and reading glasses will be available, after patient consults.
Elevation
655 m (2149 ft)
Climate
Nagaland has a largely monsoon climate with high humidity levels. Annual rainfall averages around 2,000 mm, concentrated in the months of May to September. Temperatures can range from 5°C (41°F) to 40°C (104°F).
Ukhrul, Manipur
Ukhrul is a land of beautiful mountains interspersed by numerous tribal inhabitants echoing with the rhythms of tribal cultures and rich wild life. Besides the serene environment, the ways of life of the simple and friendly tribals who have been known for generations for their honesty and integrity leave one spellbound.
Ukhrul district is the home of the Tangkhul. The Tangkhuls belong to the Mongolian people which are spread all over the world. They have a rich culture. Tangkhuls are music lovers and their songs are soft and melodious. They have their own traditional folk dance known as 'Pheichak'. Pheichak occupies an important place in the life of the Tangkhul. The Official language is 'Tangkhul language'. However, there are different kinds of dialects for every village. There are more than 200 dialects estimated be spoken in each and every village, but the common language is the Hunphun (Ukhrul) dialect.
* Project Description: These are optical and surgical projects. The main clinic and surgery days will be held at the local Hospital. Patients are offered vision screenings, diagnosis, refractions, glasses, and surgeries. A collection of prescription eyeglasses will be available, along with reading glasses for those who require glasses after their consult.
Elevation
1,662 m (5,453 ft)
Climate
This northeastern corner of India enjoys a generally mild climate, though the winters can be a chilly. Throughout the year, temperatures can range from 5 °C to 29 °C.
Travelling on a Project
About India
COUNTRY BACKGROUND
Home to some of the world's most ancient surviving civilizations, the Indian subcontinent - from the mountainous Afghan frontier to the jungles of Burma - is both vast and diverse in terms of its people, language and cultural traditions. Apart from its many religions and sects, India is home to innumerable castes and tribes, as well as to more than a dozen major and hundreds of minor linguistic groups from several language families unrelated to one another. Religious groups, including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains, still account for a significant proportion of the population. With roughly one-sixth of the world’s total population, India is the second most-populous country, after China. Though the country’s population remains largely rural, India has three of the most populous and cosmopolitan cities in the world - Mumbai, Kolkata, and the nation's capital, Delhi.
LOCATION:
India is positioned on the Indian subcontinent in south-central Asia, and is located in both the eastern and northern hemispheres. It borders the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES:
20.5937° N, 78.9629° E
MAP REFERENCES:
South-central Asia
COASTLINE:
7,517 km
MARITIME CLAIMS:
12 nautical miles
BORDER COUNTRIES:
China, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan.
CLIMATE AND TERRAIN:
India is home to an extraordinary variety of climatic regions, ranging from tropical in the south to temperate and alpine in the Himalayan north, where elevated regions receive sustained winter snowfall. The nation's climate is strongly influenced by the Himalayas and the Thar Desert.
TOTAL AREA:
3.287 million km²
ELEVATION EXTREMES
LOWEST POINT:
Indian Ocean - 0 m
HIGHEST POINT:
Kangchenjunga Mountain - 8,586 m (3rd highest point in the world)
