Tribal Hospital, Sittilingi

Recieved this write-up yesterday from Murtuza Ghiya(Batch of 2005)


TRIBAL HOSPITAL

Sittilingi, a remote village in Dharmapuri district…..
A place where the BOND may not sound so much like a burden …
Randal Sequera from b/o 2005 , was the lucky person to have hit the jackpot and embraced this place as his bond centre.

Having paid off my bond, I went there to work for a month, awaiting entrance exam results. It took me 3 buses (the last 2 very similar to those we see on TV when the Ad- maker is trying to portray a remarkably rickety bus there by implying a remarkably rural place!!)
I was already feeling special.

The master minds behind this beautiful campus are – Dr Reji and Dr Lalitha , popularly called JI and THA by everyone ( from the nurse's 5 yr old daughter to the 65 yr old cook at the mess) !! More than 2 decades ago Ji went on a trip exploring medically underserved areas and found that this area has by far one of the highest infant mortality rates. With very little support from NGO s they set this place up amongst a variety of risks and uncertainties!! They bore in mind the Gandhian principles they learnt at Gandhigram ,Tamil Nadu- about how India s true wealth and power is in the villages and hence every aspect of rural India including health, culture, craft, farming , ideology needs to be promoted in its purest form! Hence they have an organic farming office, and an embroidery office, amongst others in the campus!

Apart from the rustic , yet suave architecture on campus , the most striking thing on campus is the humble hustle of the 2 dozen odd tribal nurses. Without a “Degree” I am amazed at the way they are so professional with their work. They are as good as any with formal education, in fact better!! Immediately I learnt that its all about attitude and not the badges ( that we , in big hospitals tend to get carried away with!)

Dr Randal has rediscovered himself here. Not only does he perform his mandatory 3 tiring OP duties a week , OT duties , ward work etc sincerely , he has taken keen interest on the “outreach programme” which is a new extension project on the other side of the hills that surround Sittilingi. Along the line of thought of his boss , he emphasizes on education in all spheres with the epicenter being maternal and child health. He takes occasional English Grammar classes for the young nursing trainees , basic pharmacology classes for the pharmacists , role plays about health ,nutrition etc for govt school children.. he always finds time to inspire and encourage many people ( including myself) cocooned in the cities to have a look at the inspring work done here !!

Randal has made himself a part of the system and a part of Sittilingi, identifying with the people with ease. I stood in awe watching how Randal , a Bombay boy , struggled to speak kannada after 6 yrs in St Johns , Bangalore ; but managed to speak fluent , dignified tamil in less than 6 months!! It gives me immense pleasure to learn how this rather carefree playful chap has learnt to be so intensely committed ; How SPAZ (spastic) Randi has transformed to Rural Randi!!
At the end of it all I can say one thing without a shadow of a doubt- that he has no regret doing his bond , which , from my research and understanding is not a very common scenario with most other bonders. While most of us maybe busy finding GOD in a Sachin Tendulkar or Anna or a Narayan Murthy ; Sittilingi worships a different set of deities – JI and THA assisted by a reliable Randi!!

PS-I sincerely apologize to any johnites I may be offending in any way, specially the bonders! Dr Randall, JI and Tha for any factual errors and the above mentioned celebrities for slighting them , if at all!!

Thank you for your patient reading,
Murtuza Ghiya ,
St Johns, batch of 2005.

Murtuza and Randal

In patient and OT Complex- Exterior

OPD Block

Inside the OT

My sincere thanks to Murtuza who I met briefly before he left for Sittilingi when I shared my plans as well as Randal who has been working there all these months.Thanks for showing that road oft trodden is not necessarily the only path to a meaningful and satisfactory life.Drs Reji and Lalitha's wonderful work has been recognized and honored across the nation.Another Johnite who has worked there is Lalit Narayan( Batch of 2001).....Binu