May 2k5.pmd - Sri Sathya Sai Books & Publication Trust

NEWS FROM SAI CENTRES1. Medical CampsSri Lanka: From 11th to 25th March 2005,152 Sai volunteers from the United Kingdomand Australia in collaboration with Sri SathyaSai Organisation of Sri Lanka served thepeople in the tsunami affected areas in SriLanka. Dr. Upadhyaya, Member of SriSathya Sai International Medical Committee,headed this massive relief mission thatcomprised eye and ENT specialists,neurosurgeons, general physicians, dentalsurgeons, paediatricians, gynaecologists,pharmacists, optometrists, nurses and otherskilled individuals from various disciplines.They brought with them six tonnes of generaland medical supplies that includedmedicines, antibiotics, vitamins, medicalequipment, as also stationery, toys andclothes for children. The medical equipmentincluded phaco-emulsification machines thatare used for cataract surgery, slit lamps,optical microscopes, orthopaedic andneurosurgical equipment.These 152 volunteers worked as seventeams in different locations throughout theirrelief mission. The logistics of the reliefoperation were well planned and coordinatedbetween the UK, Australia and Sri Lanka SaiOrganisations and demanded a lot ofdedication, patience and perseverance. Thisstupendous task of taking surgical andgeneral medical equipment to sixlocations simultaneously wouldnot have been possible withoutBhagavan’s grace.The teams in the North, East and Southof Sri Lanka provided the following medicalservices: eye examination, cataract surgery,neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery, healthcheck for school children, grief counselling,A view of the medical camp in Sri Lankaorganised by Sri Sathya Sai InternationalMedical Committee.classes on dental hygiene for children,psychological support, provision of medicalequipment and supplies to the hospitals.They performed about 800 cataractsurgeries and 200 dental surgeries. 22,000consultations in various specialities,2000 dental consultations, and severalhundreds of orthopaedic procedures wereaccomplished. They disbursed around 7000pairs of eyeglasses. The doctors screenedseveral thousand school children from 58schools and updated their health reportcards. The seven teams worked togetherand there was no distinction between the UK,Australian and Sri Lankan teams. On thecompletion of their relief mission,medical supplies including medicines,two phaco-machines, medicalMay 2005 150