People Who Make the Difference
Source:
Radio Sai
E-Magazine, November 1, 2003
http://www.radiosai.org/Journals/05NOV01/TemplesHealing/PeopleDifference.htm
The
scarf on the neck and "Sai Ram" on the lips, are their hallmark.
Every fortnight they come, from states all over the country, to
render a period of relentless service in the holy hospital. They
are the Seva Dal force- the people who make the difference, in the
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences.
You can find them
almost everywhere in the Hospital. As a patient enters the
Hospital, the Seva Dal volunteers greet him at the gates and guide
the patient to the Department he wishes to go to. Their kind words
and caring demeanor, restore the patient's spirit, right away. For
the feeble and ailing, the volunteers are ready with wheelchairs.
At
the registration counter, the multilingual volunteers serve as
translators. They take the utmost care of the patient's security
and comfort. Infants, the old, and the very sick, are attended to
immediately, thanks to the efficient triaging done by the
volunteers. The volunteers are a big support to the OPD staff and
doctors, as it is they who regulate and control patient flow into
the consultation rooms. Some skilled Seva Dal volunteers even
actively participate in direct patient care.
The
volunteers are the 'messengers' and 'couriers' who ply between
departments. They bring in the essential surgical and medical
supplies. They transfer samples between various laboratories. Some
of them support nurses in escorting patients to the various
departments; others assist in arranging patient files and ordering
medical records. No matter what the job is, the volunteers execute
it with an effective enthusiasm and efficiency.
In the Department of
Dietetics, the volunteers help the dietitians in every step of
preparing food for the patients. At mealtime, they take the food
in to the ward, personally serve it to every patient there, and
ensure that all patients have had their fill. It's only after
completing the task, that they go and have their meal. Meanwhile,
other volunteers are busy in the canteen, serving food to the
staff of the hospital; taking care of the caregivers themselves.
Finally,
they clean and spruce up the place, for the next day. They softly
sing Bhajans and go about sweeping and mopping almost the entire
floor area of the hospital. They wipe the windows, dust the
furniture and make the place spotlessly clean.
Yes, some of these
volunteers are professionals, highly qualified and immensely
regarded. Yet, they have no qualms in doing any task, high or low.
They take it all as a rare opportunity to serve and be a part of
their Lord's grand Mission. Through this, they not only alleviate
suffering, but they also experience a deep sense of spiritual
fulfillment and elevate their lives to nobler heights.
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