This World Health Day, Support These Doctors On Their Mission

Lack of access to good health care is a major contributor to diseases and death among the impoverished in India. According to a Lancet report, 2.4 million Indians die every year from treatable conditions. Making matter worse for the poor is the lack of awareness and the inaccessibility of quality food (nutrition) and health care due to the costs associated with it. Thankfully there are some who extend a helping hand to those who are in need. Here are three such examples:

Dr. Rajendra Dhamane and Dr. Sucheta

The husband and wife duo run Mauli Seva Pratishthan, a rescue and rehabilitation home for mentally and physically ill women who have been abandoned or abused. Together Dr. Rajendra Dhamane and Dr. Sucheta not only make the rehabilitation centre a home for these women but a safe space to live with dignity and hope for a better life. They have rescued hundreds of women over the years and are now taking care of 300 women and their 29 children.

Dr. Sunil Kumar Hebbi

A superhero on wheels, Dr Sunil travels around in his converted car which is a fully-equipped mobile clinic. He treats people in villages, old-age homes and slums for free. He also started Matru Siri Foundation to extend his services for the benefit of the underprivileged by providing them with basic medical care. He has conducted more than 750 free health check-up camps across India and has treated over 1,20,000 patients.

Dr. Abhijit Sonawane and Dr. Manisha Sonawane

Here is another husband and wife duo changing the lives of some of the most invisible people in Pune. After giving up a lucrative medical career, Dr. Abhijit took it upon himself to care for the beggars and abandoned elders in the city. Together with his wife, he started Soham Trust in 2015 to help the poor and underprivileged in the city. Along with providing free health care, they also help the capable ones to take up basic work to become financially independent. Since the NGO was founded, they have registered 1100 homeless individuals for medical support and helped more than 49 elderly beggars.

You can support their causes here.