Service Learning: Sambhavna Clinic | Bhopal, India

The Integrative Health Care (IHC) major at MSU Denver is an interdisciplinary program that integrates health sciences with ancient healing practices from around the globe. In January 2016, the IHC Program will be traveling to Bhopal, India to facilitate a service learning project at the Sambhavna Clinic. The clinic is an integrated health center that provides free Allopathic and Ayurvedic medicine to the survivors of the Bhopal community whom continue to suffer from severe health issues from a Union Carbide chemical spill that occurred 30 years ago.

On December 3rd 1984, over 40 tons of methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, immediately killing more than 3,800 people and causing significant health problems and premature death for thousands more. The water and soil contamination caused by this tragedy still plays a major role in the Bhopal community today continuing to cause major health issues. The IHC program has taken interest in addressing this issue and learning from the Sambhavna Clinics approach to health care. We anticipate this trip offering us the opportunity to learn the ways in which medicine function’s in different parts of the world, and how we can weave that wisdom into the health care system of our own country.

A group of us students have collaborated to form what we call the India Committee, as a way to join forces to fundraise. Our efforts, with the help of supporters like you, will be paying doctors salaries, updating the facilities, bringing needed supplies and offering aid for student travel. We are thrilled to invite you to support us in making this trip unfold how we envision it.