First Mobile Medicare Conference

The first conference of the Sri Sathya Sai Mobile Medicare Project of Mumbai district was inaugurated in Dharmakshetra on 27 Feb 2010 by the State President of Sri Sathya Sai Organisation Shri. Ramesh Sawant, Maharashtra along with the Mumbai District President Shri. Nimish Pandya and the members of the Sri Sathya Sai Trust, Maharashtra.

What started as a pilot project in April 2007 was officially launched with Bhagawan’s blessings on 13th June 2008, keeping in mind that basic health care should be available to one and all irrespective of caste and creed. Ever since then, the project has been rendering yeoman service to mankind encompassing over 5 lac patients in the nectarine love of the Divine Master. Currently, 16 mobile dispensaries are functioning and this number is expected to increase steadily, with a vision of 27 mobile dispensaries to be offered at the Lotus Feet by the 85th Birthday celebrations.

It is Divine will that had resulted in such a mammoth project, tapping not only huge financial resources, but the potential of human resources as well, in the form of dedicated doctors, para-medical and the Sevadal who had worked with a great sense of commitment to make this dream come true. Shri Ramesh Sawant and Shri Nimish Pandya, while on a visit to Brindavan were prompted by Bhagawan, “Mumbai me Medical karo" (Do medical in Mumbai). While Mumbai was eager to implement the command of Bhagawan, Shri Mohan Bharwani grabbed this opportunity and made it his passion to share the love of Bhagawan with the sick and suffering. Working in tandem with Dr. Pankaj Gandhi and his team of Doctors, this project has served as a common platform for several people to experience the synergy of love.

Addressing the first conference of Sri Sathya Sai Mobile Medicare Project, the district president Shri Nimish Pandya said that God had given an opportunity for every one to come together for a good cause and although the experience was ours to cherish, the real doer was undoubtedly Bhagawan himself. He spoke of the uniqueness of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation in helping us to eliminate our ego in the process of serving mankind. He motivated the gathering to strengthen their relationship with Bhagawan on a one to one basis through the means of the Organisation. It was the need of the hour to experience God in the patients and in our hearts.

He said that it was the Divine Love and grace of Swami that was instrumental in bringing about miraculous cures in the patients rather than the instruments and equipments in the van. He was all praise for the leadership of Shri. Mohan Bharwani and Dr. Pankaj Gandhi for having mobilised a dedicated team of sevaks. Last but not the least, he lauded the undaunted support of the State President, Shri Ramesh Sawant, whose constant encouragement had kept the project going. He expressed his dream of having one medical van in every samithi of Mumbai before the 85th birthday celebrations.

Taking over from the district president, Shri Mohan Bharwani reiterated that this was not merely a medical project but an opportunity to share the love of Baba with the millions of suffering humanity. He said that Bhagavan had acceded to give his blessings for the project when he had humbly prayed to him saying, “With your blessings, we want to take your love to the millions of suffering humanity in Maharashtra”. He said that Das Ganu had been chosen by Shirdi Baba to spread His glory and now Baba had made them all instruments to elevate humanity to a higher level of consciousness.

Shri. Bharwani quoted Bhagawan who had once said to a doctor, “Being of service to your patients is My Padnamaskar. He urged the devotees to seek the ultimate experience by basking in the Divine Grace that descends when humanity is served in the right spirit.

He said that unless the seva helped one to identify himself with the pain of the patient and relieve him of his agony, it was of no avail.Although the Yuga Avatar in all humility had told some devotees, “It is 25% Seva, 25% medicines and 50% My Grace that is instrumental in curing the patients”, it was actually the Infinite Compassion and 100% grace of Bhagawan that was bringing about such miraculous healings. This was a constant source of inspiration and guidance for the team members of the project.

He quoted the findings of a WHO team which stated after it had surveyed India’s healthcare that “if Indians are to enjoy better health, utmost importance should be given to primary and preventive healthcare.” Hence, the mobile dispensaries were viable alternatives to the setting up of hospitals and clinics and to achieve a wider coverage of the population particularly in the rural areas at a very low cost.

He further highlighted the future course of action:

1. All adopted villages to be cataract free and free from malnutrition by 85th Birthday.

2. Emergency Management.

3. Social and medical counseling to start in all adopted villages and slums where special efforts to be taken up to educate inhabitants on various health, hygiene, nutrition and sanitation matters.

4. Social and medical counseling to start in all adopted villages and slums where special efforts to be taken up to educate inhabitants on various health, hygiene, nutrition and sanitation matters.

5. Each Samithi to operate one mobile dispensary. Mumbai City, Thane District and Navi Mumbai to have at least 16 vehicles serving over 400000 patients annually.

6. Specialised training will be given to those who are interested through regular supply of study materials and providing the necessary training whenever possible.

7. All adopted villages to be cataract / malnutrition free. Coordinate with each other to conduct various types of specialty camps.

8. All Samithis to tie up with local hospitals with like-minded objects for Super-Speciality services even if small amount is payable.

9. Vaccination camps to be organized with the help of local authorities for diseases like typhoid, jaundice, polio, etc.

10. Specialised camps like eye, mother and child, orthopedic and dental etc to be organised on a regular basis

11. Sevadal and Mahilas to educate Sai colony inmates and residents of adopted villages on health, hygeine , nutrition and sanitation.

Speaking on the war against Malnutrition, Dr Pankaj Gandhi cited some grave truths which were pointers to the pathetic state of health problems in our country:

1. One third of world’s poor live in India: World Bank Report.
2. 50% of child death are due to malnutrition.
3. 1 in every 3 malnourished children are from India.
4. 1 in every 3 under the age of 3 are underweight.
5. Over 230 millions are undernourished in India – the highest for any country in the world.
6. More than 27% of the world undernourished population is in India.
7. Percentage of women with energy deficiency is over 40% of the population.
8. Over 20% of the world’s hungry estimated 963 millions are in India.
9. About 10% of 27 million infants born do not survive for more than 5 years.

While lauding the efforts of the entire team which had made this project come true, the State President enthused the participants to invite relatives and friends on their visits to villages so as to create awareness about the nobility of this seva. He said this was the only way in which we can express our love for the Divine Master. He expressed his immense Ananda in witnessing the sea of humanity that had converged for this conference. He said the Mobile Medicare project was instrumental in opening several other avenues of service like accelerating the pace of Sai Poshak Aahar program to meet the growing needs of the patients, apart from fortifying the Village Integrated Programme. Conducting Bal vikas classes, bhajans, study circles and narayan seva also afforded a platform to bring about holistic development of the personality through the integration of the 3 Precious gems given by Bhagawan – Educare, Medicare and Sociocare.