Based in Bihar in northern India on the border with Nepal, ‘The Duncan Hospital’ is the only medical facility in its region. It provides medical care for five million Nepalese and six million Indians but receives no funds from central government. It is hard to imagine this number of people, but think of a single hospital, smaller in size than The High School buildings, attempting to meet the medical needs of a population twice the size of Scotland. 

Fascinatingly, the hospital was originally founded by a Scot, when, in 1930 an Edinburgh GP and missionary called Cecil Duncan, established a 30 bed unit in the area. Since then, it has grown to accommodate 175 beds and become part of the Emanuel Hospital Association that exists to transform communities with care primarily focused on the poor and marginalised, treating all irrespective of caste, creed or race.  

In February of next year, the hospital will be opening a new nursing college, and we are so excited to announce that our aim is to create a bursary fund that will support six local students to attend. This college will create opportunities for young women, in particular, who are often denied access to this level of education, so these bursaries will produce a double benefit: first, in the lives of those who receive this medical training, and then in the local community that will receive an enhanced level of care after the nurses compete their studies. In short, the Bannerman Bursary could create a legacy that will pay positive dividends in Bihar for decades to come. 

So what will we be doing to get us to this exciting total? 

Monday 7th - The Chase Quiz Show. Tuesday 8^th - Duncan’s Doughnuts. Wednesday 9^th - Dunk for Duncan. Thursday 10^th - Non-uniform Day & The Great Bannerman Bake Off. Every Day - Bannerman Buskers & Raffle