Our History

Dr Prabhu Kumar Challagali a long time resident of the state of Andhra Pradesh in India set up a research project to look at the level of poverty and lack of support provided to the poorest residents. Dr Challagali, a qualified doctor specialising in diabetes visited towns, villages and tribal areas to document how those who have very little were coping with everyday life in India. During his travels he documented the suffering of women, children and men on streets with little to feed themselves and their children. Those who were ill could not afford basic medicine to help with their ailments. Children were undernourished with their rib cages showing yet others begged on streets to help their family with their next meal.

He found lack of literacy, lack of awareness of medical help, lack of educational opportunities and as a result perpetual poverty. Many did not have proper homes to live in or for that matter proper sanitation. Their diet was extremely poor and lacking in the essential vitamins and minerals required for healthy functioning of the human body.

Dr Challagali decided he would present his findings to the Rev Thomas Orr. Rev Orr understood that there was a need to take action to help those who were worse off than he and over a period of time launched a major project called “Bethesda – A Mission of Mercy”. The aim of this mission was to deal with some of the findings in Dr Challagali’s comprehensive report – to provide free medical aid, a free educational programme, help and advice on nutrition and a nutritional research programme.

Since the start Rev Orr’s programme thousands of poor people have been helped with educational opportunities, relief from pain and suffering and free prescription medicine in many towns, villages and hard to reach tribal areas.

Blessing of God ,
Dr.Prabhu Kumar Challagali M.B.B.S,P.G.D.H.S, MD – Internal Clinical Medicine(UK)
Founder & Director
BETHESDA - A MISSION OF MERCY