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Baba asks govt to help out doctors with equipment

B S MANU RAO

 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ SUNDAY, JULY 06, 2003 02:09:25 AM ]

 

BANGALORE: In a unique meet, a galaxy of eminent doctors gathered at

Brindavan, the Whitefield ashram of Sri Sathya Sai Baba on Saturday,

to celebrate the charitable healthcare of Sri Sathya Sai Hospitals,

which have saved thousands of lives over the last three decades.

 

At a glittering function in their honour, Baba called on the

government to support doctors wanting to serve the needy, with

equipment. He also called on the healthcare industry to render free

medical service to whatever extent possible.

 

Praising doctors as embodiments of the divine, he said, "The best

way to love God is to serve", and asked even those who are not in

the medical profession to extend a helping hand. Baba spoke at

length on health and said body consciousness needs to be checked and

consciousness of the divinity within needs to be dwelt on for good

health.

 

Baba recognised the yeoman's service rendered by two city doctors,

Dr D.C. Sundaresh, orthopaedic surgeon and Dr Hemantha Murthy,

ophthalmic surgeon, and presented them with cash awards of Rs 7

lakhs each. The awards were handed over by Karnataka governor T.

Chaturvedi and chief minister S.M. Krishna.

 

Earlier, C. Sreenivas, chairman, Sri Sathya Sai Health and Education

Trust, addressing the huge gathering of doctors and devotees,

apprised them of the role the hospitals have played in offering

quality healthcare to the needy who cannot afford expensive

treatment. "When love manifests as service, it is sacred. When

sacred service becomes an institution, it becomes a temple of

healing," he said.

 

Sreenivas has been associated with Baba's various social welfare and

free healthcare programmes for 33 years. His mother, Dr C.

Rajeswari, spearheaded Baba's medical initiatives in the state way

back in 1974 and helped established the General Hospital at

Whitefield then. This hospital has since treated over 2.25 million

cases from around 2,600 villages.

 

Sreenivas spoke of the Herculean efforts on at Baba's hospitals to

bring hi-tech care and talent to the weaker sections and lauded the

services of the leading doctors who visit hospitals regularly to

treat patients free of charge.

 

"We started off with just three doctors then and today there is a

queue of doctors waiting to treat patients at this General

Hospital," he said. Sreenivas called on the medical fraternity to

help bring much-needed relief to the needy. "It is our obligation to

help our brethren," he said, and cited Baba saying that healthcare

should be offered as a fundamental right to all, free of charge.

 

Dr A.N. Safaya, director of Baba's super speciality hospitals, said

the total cost of treatment offered free would be worth over Rs 100

crore per year in commercial terms.

 

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Sai Baba in the Media

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