 The maternity hospital in Kolkata, Matribhavan, now a modern 100 bedded medical centre treated 30,345 patients (mothers and children) in its Outdoor Department and 2724.in the Indoor Department, out of which 2 patients were treated free; concessional rate: 358. Welfare activities for poor children and women were conducted as before. 30 slum children were provided with clothes, medicines, milk and tiffin free along with education. Tailoring and handicraft classes for needy women (attendance: 156) continued. Help was rendered in cash and kind worth Rs. 17,50,797/- (No. of beneficiaries : 8691). The hospital runs a clinic for children of age group 1 month to 3 years with full immunization and a clinical and bio-chemical laboratory equipped with modern technology to ensure efficient and quick service. Laboratory tests (No. of patients: 7617, free: 137, concession : 172), Ultrasonography and EGG (No. of patients : 4001, free: 129, concession: 65) and Cardiotocogra-phy (No. of patients : 1685, free : 9) were done during the period. The hospital has taken a long term development project to improve its service among women and children of urban slums. Funds are being collected for the purpose. During the period, Community Health Programmes were organised regularly for women and children of nearby slums (No. of beneficiaries : 4294). 26 candidates of Matribhavan School of Nursing appeared in the final Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery (Revised) Examination conducted by the West Bengal Nursing Council in October 2008. All passed; 10 secured 1st Class while 4 got distinction.
 A Thalassaemia Awareness Camp was organized at the Siriti Centre in July, while the Thalassaemia Screening Camp took place in August for the children of the Centre's primary school and the patients of the baby clinic. 124 children were examined.
Under the Headquarters at Dakshineswar, the charitable dispensary Sevayan treated 3000 patients. Dr. Sumana Sengupta as well as other doctors continued to render their devoted services as before. Blood tests, chest X-rays etc. for women and children of the locality were done with the help and collabora tion of some hospitals and clinics in Kolkata. During the period, the Eye Section, attended by qualified ophthalmologists treated 271 patients; 3 Eye camps were organised in collaboration with Priyamvada Birla Arvind Eye Hospital in which 245 patients were examined, while arrangements were done for 95 eye operations. Yoga classes were conducted as in the previous years under the direction of an experienced teacher (average attendance: 20).
The Ashrama in Kolkata conducted Yoga classes (attendance: 185) and a charitable dispensary for women and children, where 6787 patients were treated, while the dispensary run by Vivekananda Vidyabhavan and Sevangan, the charitable clinic of the Siriti centre, treated 1694 and 7239 patients respectively. Medicines were supplied free.
 Sri Sarada Seva Kutir, the charitable clinic of the Chennai Math treated 70,409 patients who came from the city as well as from surrounding villages. Special eye camps were conducted every month for the benefit of poor patients. Besides, the physiotherapy, ophthalmology, ENT and dental sections treated 2828 cases including ECG, X-ray and polio immunization. Pathological and other tests done in the laboratory numbered 1726. Medicines worth Rs. 6,49,3887- were distributed free. The homoeopathic section treated 241 patients. Clothes as well as baby food were distributed among 1500 mothers and children as every year.
The Math Centres at Pune, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar and Valsad conducted charitable dispensaries for women and children (No. of patients : 576, 1275, 1684 and 3610 respectively). Everywhere, medicines were distributed free. The mobile dispensary of the Bhubaneswar Math served the surrounding areas twice a week.
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