Immanuel Hospital

Down at 221 Nehru Bazar in Avadi, things are usually pretty loud. That’s where Immanuel Hospital is located, right in the middle of all that market energy. You can hear the vendors calling out their prices from our front steps. Our hospital is a bit of a landmark for people in this part of Avadi. The building itself has been through a lot of seasons, and you can tell by looking at the worn stairs or the heavy front gate. We don’t have a lot of extra space, so every room is used for something important. The hallway is often filled with people talking or waiting for their turn with the doctor. We try to keep things moving along, but sometimes there’s a wait that can’t be helped. We use simple fans to keep the air moving, and the windows stay shut to keep most of the dust from the bazar out. The staff knows the best places to get tea nearby, and we usually have a few cups throughout the shift to keep us going. It is a busy, working-class kind of place. We don't have any polished marble floors or fancy uniforms. We just wear what’s practical and get to work. Most of our patients are people who work in the market or live just a few streets away. It’s a lot of manual work, keeping track of everyone and making sure the supplies are stocked up. We just do our best.