Spreading His Love -
Service by Sai Students
Source:
Radio Sai
E-Magazine, January 15, 2004
http://www.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_02/02Jan15/08_WINDOW_TO_SAI_SEVA/sai_seva.htm
SPREADING HIS
LOVE : SERVICE BY SAI STUDENTS
Nestled
on the outskirts of Mudigubba, 36 kms. from Prashanti Nilayam,
exists a small hamlet called Maarala, that was designed to be
venue of the 24th Grama Seva Camp conducted by the Sri Sathya
Students, held on the 30th of December 2003.
Preliminary visits
by our brothers revealed that, as is typical of the Indian
landscape, especially in these confines, Maarala comprised mostly
of agriculturists and cattle raisers.
In
keeping with Bhagavan's directives over the past seven years,
prior arrangements were made to address the health and well being
of the inhabitants and their surroundings, with a fervent prayer
to Swami that these efforts facilitate an eventual improvement in
their lifestyle. Accordingly, a total of 41 doctors and several
paramedics from Vishakapatnam, Coorg, Coimbatore, Bangalore,
Hyderabad and a group from overseas as well participated in the
camp.
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The specialities
that were covered in by this team included:
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ENT
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Cardiology
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General
Medicine
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Dermatology
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Ophthalmology
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Gynecology
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Dentistry
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Homeopathy
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Acupressure
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Veterinary
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After
a prayer and bhajans, the various departments were set up and the
doctors and paramedics In addition to medicine and food, hope, too
was distributed, and in abundance.
The different
departments were set up in the classrooms of the village school
and the elderly, the householders and the children were diagnosed
at the different departments, were allocated their respective
rooms.
Simultaneously,
the tables for the registering of the patients commenced and
continued till late afternoon reaching a total of 2455 patients.
Each person was
directed or taken to the respective department depending on the
complaint / ailment.
While the paramedics assisted the doctors, the students ensured
that everything proceeded smoothly and efficiently.
Once the diagnosis was done, the patients were directed to the
pharmacy where the prescribed medicines were given along with
instructions in their local language (Telugu) on dosage and
requirements.
The
faces of the villagers beamed with hope and satisfaction, that
there was someone who cared deeply for them.
After the villagers received their medicines, food was distributed
in a shamiana.
A Bal Vikas class
was conducted on the school playground for the school children and
others from the village - bhajans, shklokas, etc.
A shaminana was
replete with posters on Health and Hygiene and several students
gave general healthcare instructions to the villagers.
Here
too Chunam and Spatikam was distributed to the villagers for
de-fluoridation of drinking water explaining the process to them.
Sai protein was
distributed to the children and 300 saplings were planted in the
village.
Blankets, sarees,
and dhotis were given to the elderly persons of the village.
In
keeping with the common practice of Swami to bring relief in
various forms directly to the doorstep of the beneficiary, these
camps are held quarterly totally free of charge in the various
villages around Puttaparthi and Bangalore.
The objective was
clearly in line with Swami's message: bring spirituality to the
poor in the form of food, medicine and shelter.
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