Makunda Christian Leprosy and General Hospital had its beginnings as Makunda Leprosy Colony in 1950 on 1000 acres of land purchased by the Baptist Mid-Missions, USA. Soon after the hospital started, Dr Gene Burrows, a MD from USA started the work in the leprosy colony in full earnest. Responding to the dire medical needs in the region, he soon converted it into a much needed general hospital.

He contributed to the work at Makunda for nearly 30 years and during his tenure, the hospital was well known for its work among the poor, tea-estates and leprosy patients. The hospital faced a major crisis in the early 1980s, when the Government of India asked all expatriate missionaries to leave the country and the hospital had to be closed for nearly ten years for lack of doctors committed to work in the region.

In 1993, the hospital work was re started under the leadership of Dr Vijay Anand Ismavel and Dr Ann Miriam and the hospital became one of the incorporated units of the Emmanuel Hospital Association, a fellowship of Christian institutions and individuals that exists to transform communities through caring, with a primary emphasis on the poor and the marginalized in Central, North and North East India.

The Makunda Christian Leprosy and General Hospital is an independent charitable society registered in Assam. The hospital is nestled in a remote and predominantly tribal region of Karimganj District, Assam and also strategically located at the junction of the three states of Assam, Tripura and Mizoram. Karimganj district is one of the four Barak valley districts of Lower Assam which are one of the most impoverished districts in India. The rural communities of Lower Assam as well as the neighbouring states of Tripura and Mizoram are strife with poverty and illiteracy.

Data from SRS 2020 reported that rural Karimganj district had a Maternal mortality rate of 195 per 100,000 live births and an infant mortality rate of 39 per 1000 live births.

The hospital is located in Lowairpoa Block of Karimganj District and home to a heterogeous population of Bengalis and tribal populations. The tea garden tribes in Assam and the Reang refugee population from Tripura are two of the most economically and socially vulnerable communities who access subsidised care at the hospital.

During the year 2022-23, a major milestone was reached with the institution celebrating 30 years of rebuilding. From a completely closed down hospital in a resource poor setting plagued with challenges from within and without, God has transformed the institution into a thriving community providing high quality affordable health care to poor and marginalised families and transforming communities through its non- medical work. We thank God and all the staff who have been and are part of this community for their commitment to uphold the vision and mission of the Society.

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