My visit to Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission, Wayanad, Kerala

Wayanad district in Kerala is predominantly inhabited by tribal community.  Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS ) Sewa Vibhag started Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission in Muttil, Wayanad (Kerala )  in 1972 by opening a free dispensary to serve our Vanavasi (tribal )brothers by offering free medical services and Healthcare. Today it has grown into a full-fledged hospital with three medical officers, visiting specialists and necessary staff. I got an opportunity to visit the hospital and other projects of Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission last week.

     

I boarded bus from Kannur going to Kalpetta around 1:30 in the afternoon. I was told that was the only bus which goes to Kalpetta from Kannur.  The route was very scenic and enjoyable as Wayanad district of Kerala is situated on the Western Ghats.  It is believed that the region was known as Mayakshetra which became Mayanaad (Naad in Malayalam means land), which later changed to Wayanad.  I reached Kalpetta at around 6:30 after 5 hour bus journey through the valleys of Western Ghats.  After reaching Kalpetta, I had to board another bus to Muttil, where Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission is located.

 When I reached Medical Mission, Ashokan ji (Taluk Sanghachalak), Ramanunni ji, ( Sangh Pracharak having responsibility in Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram), Subbu ji ( Manager at Vivekananda Medical Mission ) were waiting and we all while having tea got introduced to each other. We briefly discussed about my next day’s itinerary.  After that I went around the Hospital, which has a General Ward with 30 beds, X-Ray Unit, Ultra sound scan, well equipped Laboratory, multi-specialty clinics and ambulance services. All these facilities are absolutely free for tribal people.  In addition to this, Vanavasi brothers are also provided with free medicine as well as free food for those who are staying in the hospital.  In the middle of the hospital premises, there is a beautiful small temple of Dhanwantari  (Dhanwantari is the Hindu God of Medicine,  promulgator of Ayurveda and Physician of Gods) .

                           Dhanwantari temple in the hospital premises:

 Then I met Dr Dhananjay Sagdeo, the Chief Medical Officer of Swami Vivekananda Medical mission who came to Wayanad in 1980 from Nagpur and is serving the community and the whole district since then.  Dr Sagdeo is Swayamsevak from Nagpur and was asked by the then RSS Chief Shri Balasaheb Deoras ji and  Shri Bhaskar Rao ji ( the then RSS Prant Pracharak of Kerala ) to come to Wayanad and join the Vivekananda Medical Mission . He shared his experience and told me that initially many tribal people hesitated to come to the hospital. So Medical Mission started mobile dispensary and medical camps were conducted going to the remote places of the district and even now every month such camps are conducted in nearly 65 places. Everyday an ambulance with a team of doctors and nurses go to different remote places and conduct medical camps. They are given medicine there itself and if needed they are referred to the Hospital where they can come, stay and take treatment.  Since such medical camps are being conducted by the Medical Mission since last 40 years, a trust has been developed because of which many tribal people now do come to the hospital by themselves for the treatment.  Such Mobile eye camps, Dental camps are also conducted by the Medical Mission.  An average of 300 patients daily visit the hospital and just last year 63805 patients were treated in the hospital and 12791 patients were provided medical treatment through mobile dispensary. On an average I was told that 100,000 patients are treated every year.

  

  Dr Sagdeo told me that the presence of Sickle Cell Anemia disease among the tribal people of Wayanad was found out by the Vivekananda Medical Mission first and was brought to the notice of the Government and the AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi).  Sickle Cell Anemia is a genetic disorder transmitted through the genes of the parents.  AIIMS initiated their first pilot project of Sickle Cell Anemia Control Program in Wayanad with Vivekananda Medical Mission as NGO Partner and more than 70% tribal population was screened. As a second stage of this initiative, a free clinic is functioning now in the hospital and Screening camps, Health education camps are continuing even now in tribal villages.  A Research project with Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Shaala is also in progress to find out proper Ayurvedic Medicine for the ailment.  Bamboo craft training was started by Vivekananda Medical Mission in order to rehabilitate the Sickle Cell Anemia patients who are not able to take up any heavy work.  140 such tribal patients have been trained till now in making handicrafts and their products are marketed through fairs and exhibitions which have helped in improving the economic condition of Sickle Cell Anemia patients.  It was really inspiring to learn how Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission has added different dimensions to the work for the overall development of tribal people and the region. After having dinner, I went to bed that day night.

          Dr Sagdeo ji (Chief Medical Officer at Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission )

              

  

                     Bamboo crafts made by Sickle Cell Anemia Patients
                                  

 Next day morning I met Dr Manu, who had joined Medical Mission recently.  After having breakfast, Ashok ji and myself went to visit a Gramin Vidya Kendra. Gramin Vidya Kendra is a another project of SVMM( Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission)  for the progress of education and culture of the tribal students.  These Vidya Kendras give preliminary education; encourage children to go to school by offering free tuition as School Drop-out rate is high among tribal children.  There are 100 such Gramin Vidya Kendras run by SVMM all over the district which are attended by 3000 Children.  De addiction program is also carried out through these Gramin Vidya Kendras and they provide a platform for organizing cultural events for tribal children.


                      Gramin Vidya Kendra Teacher with Tribal Children 

  

  After that we visited a Primary School run by SVMM in Cherukara, a very remote place.  The School has till 7^th Grade with 115 students offering free education.  There are 11 teachers and I met 8 of them.   Talking to them I came to know that transportation is a big challenge as School is not in a financial condition to buy a school van or bus.  Saudamini, Math teacher of the school walks nearly 2 hours one way to reach School in time. It was really inspiring listening to them on how they are running the school with all these challenges with limited resources, and they are badly in need of a school van. In spite of this they were really optimistic and positive that this Primary School will make an impact in tribal people’s lives in the field of education.

                                 
 Teachers of Sri Sankara Primary School run by Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission

  

 Afternoon, I visited medical camps in Karadimaadu, Muthanga and Kannangod along with the team of two doctors, 4 nurses of Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission.  Since the villagers are informed well in advance about the timing and day of the medical camp, there were many villagers who were waiting in spite of the rain. Databases of all villagers who attend the Medical Camps are also maintained which help the Doctors with their medical history.  Medicines prescribed by the Doctors are given to the Villagers there itself.  After the medical camps, we had tea at a local tea shop and returned to our base location by around 6:30 in the evening. It was heartening to see the dedication, sincerity and commitment of the young doctors, as money is not a driving factor for them to work in remote tribal villages of Wayanad giving up all the comforts of the modern city life where they have spent all their education, it is a feeling of satisfaction and service which is motivating them. And of course when they have live example of Dr Sagdeo before them who came from Nagpur in 1980 to serve our Vanavasi brethren of Wayanad and working since then,is definitely a role model for them.

Doctors of Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission in a Medical Camp, Muthanga

Around 7 p.m , I returned back  bidding good bye to Dr Sagdeo and others.  It was an enriching, inspiring, learning experience for me visiting Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission and seeing for myself, how it is transforming the lives of Vanavasis of remote villages of Wayanad.  As a result of this work, there are several people from these tribal communities who have joined the Medical Mission as doctors, workers, volunteers at various levels.  Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission was started in 1972 and work is going on since last 41 years.  It is not an easy task as I learnt that hospitals started by some other organizations and Government ran for few years in that area and was closed down because of lack of doctors, nurses, staff and other workers who would come and stay there. What is it that is sustaining Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission and other 170,000 Sewa projects run by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)?  What is or who is their inspiration?  While pondering on those questions, I remembered reading the book “The Spider and Starfish- Unstoppable power of Leaderless Organizations. “ –  where in the author says for a Decentralized Society or Organization, there will always be some people who will motivate and inspire others, and that role is person independent and will be passed on from generations to generations.  I feel this tradition of creating such people in Hindu society is carried out by Organizations such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which will continue to inspire future generations to work selflessly for the Society and Nation.