India
After almost twenty years of activity in Africa, in 2015 GICAM chose to extend its projects to other areas of the world, starting a new collaboration in India.
The first mission took place at the Julia Hospital in Jamkhed, in the state of Maharashtra, in central-western India, in collaboration with the Canadian NGO Freedom from Poverty Foundation (www.ffpf.org).
The collaboration with the Comprehensive Rural Health Project (CRHP), the Foundation that runs the Hospital, consolidated and since then, GICAM organises annual camps focused on hand surgery, orthopaedics and reconstructive microsurgery to serve the most vulnerable rural communities.
In 2024, a partnership was formed in the state of Goa, with Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), one of the oldest and most recognised academic and healthcare institutions in Southeast Asia. Besides offering specialised medical services, the collaboration includes the organisation of courses and training activities for local healthcare professionals to strengthen the healthcare system.
Julia Hospital, Jamkhed - State of Maharashtra
Since 2015, GICAM has been actively collaborating with the Comprehensive Rural Health Project (CRHP) in Jamkhed, Maharashtra, organizing surgical missions on average four times a year. These missions involve a multidisciplinary team of health professionals from different countries, combining expertise in hand surgery, orthopaedics and reconstructive microsurgery.
In addition to providing specialised surgical care, GICAM has contributed significantly to the strengthening of the hospital's facilities by donating essential medical equipment and materials. This support has helped improve the quality of services offered, making the hospital a point of reference for surgical care in the region.
The collaboration with CRHP goes beyond the clinical aspect: through an integrated approach to health and community development, GICAM participates in strengthening the local health system, helping to make health care more accessible and sustainable for the most vulnerable rural communities. The activities carried out have had a concrete impact in reducing inequalities in access to care and in promoting lasting well-being.
Julia Hospital has 50 beds, three operating rooms, a laboratory, a maternity ward and an intensive care unit. It serves a rural population of about 500,000 people, offering low-cost secondary care, emergency services and ongoing care. In this context, each mission represents a concrete opportunity to strengthen local capacities and generate positive changes in the long term.
Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) – Goa State
In June 2024, GICAM started a new collaboration with Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), one of Asia’s oldest and most renowned medical institutions, to set up a specialised hand surgery unit within the newly established Super Specialty Block. This state-of-the-art hospital, designed to accommodate 500 beds, is designed to meet the growing healthcare needs of the population of Goa and its neighbouring states.
The aim of GICAM's intervention is to introduce advanced surgical techniques and improve access to specialised care in hand surgery, orthopaedics and reconstructive microsurgery. Two missions have been successfully carried out so far: the first in August 2024, the second in January 2025. During these missions, the GICAM team worked closely with local medical personnel, performing complex surgical interventions, offering clinical advice and conducting training sessions in the field.
Two more missions are planned in the second half of 2025, with the aim of further strengthening local expertise and consolidating a sustainable collaboration model. The official inauguration of the hand surgery unit is planned for the end of 2025, marking a significant milestone for GICAM and the GMC.
In addition to clinical activity, the collaboration includes the establishment of advanced training programs, including fellowships for doctors and students interested in specialising in hand surgery. These initiatives will contribute to the professional growth of future specialists and the dissemination of the skills necessary to offer quality care in the territory in a continuous and autonomous way.