Serving selflessly with confidence makes the difference: Dr Sagdeo

 

IT WAS some 41 years ago, when a young Dr Dhananjay Diwakar Sagdeo from Nagpur decided to dedicate his life to serving the people after completing his medical education from Indira Gandhi Government Medical College. He moved to tribal area of Wayanad district in Kerala, and started serving the tribals. What started as a small healthcare unit has now bloomed into an umbrella of initiatives and, more importantly, into a place that the people trust.

 

Dr Sagdeo, a resident of Yashwant Nagar near Gandhi Nagar in Nagpur, has been among the winners of the coveted ‘Padma Shri’ this year. Since 1980, he made Kalpetta in Wayanad district of Kerala as his second home. A man with a smiling face and a doctor with a blessed hand, he is rooted firmly in the sanskaars of serving the motherland, inspired by the thoughts of Swami Vivekananda and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Dr Sagdeo, an alumnus of Hadas High School at Nagpur, is a highly respected figure in Kerala. His model of empowerment of tribals, especially those affected due to Sickle Cell, is working wonders.

 

Talking to ‘The Hitavada’ over phone Dr Sagdeo he said, “I am happy that the work I have been doing for tribals has got recognition. I feel more motivated to keep on serving the tribals.”

 

After qualifying as MBBS doctor, Dr Sagdeo headed to Kalpetta with blessings of Balasaheb Deoras, then Sarsanghchalak of RSS, supported by Shankara Shastri and Bhaskara Rao. It was a time when not many parents encouraged their children to move away from them and that too for social service in some remote area of the country. But his parents, Diwakarrao and Saroj, thought differently.

 

When a young Dr Dhananjay went to Wayanad, he faced several challenges ranging from acceptance to language. Wayanad district has several tribes. “The tribals had certain taboos back then. They were reluctant to take medicine. But I was determined and had prepared myself mentally. So, I started working. Gradually, selfless work with confidence and consistency started yielding positive results. Today, the change is for all to see,” he said.

 

Dr Sagdeo started a small clinic at Muttil. Today, it has developed into a modern facility with in-patient care including maternity care, outpatient clinic with full-time doctors, X-ray and Ultrasound facilities, laboratory, pharmacy, etc. It has six sub-centres run by mobile units that take healthcare to the doorsteps of tribals. The centre also provides specialty care in ophthalmology, pediatrics, ENT etc by doctors who visit on a regular basis.

 

The most important part of his work has been in the field of Sickle Cell. It was prevalent among tribals. In 1999, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, joined hands with Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission Trust to introduce the first pilot project. More than 70 per cent of the tribals were screened. A separate trust by the name Sickle Cell Anaemia Research Foundation was formed to continue the campaign. “After screening, we issued red, blue, and white cards to patients, carriers, and non-affected persons respectively. These cards helped in marriage counselling, thereby reducing the sufferings of the people,” Dr Sagdeo said.

 

The centre has an active microscopic and treatment centre, and works in the field of Tuberculosis treatment too. Other initiatives include alcohol rehabilitation programme, work as ‘Mother NGO’ for Wayanad district to implement various National Rural Health Programmes. The centre runs Bamboo craft training centre to help the tribals preserve their traditional handicraft and also make some financial gains, which has come in handy for rehabilitation of Sickle Cell patients. The Mission also plays an active role in organising self-help groups, micro insurance programmes etc. Further, it has established around 100 ‘Vidya Kendra’ (coaching centers) along with small libraries and reading rooms.

 

Dr Sagdeo is serving the society with the mission’s five-point programme -- Shikshan (education), Swasthya (healthcare), Sanskar (grooming), Swavalamban (self-reliance), and Samajik (social work). He is ably supported by his wife Sujata, who has won several awards for recipes. Several of her articles on recipes have appeared in various publications. Elder daughter Aditi Shahapurkar and her husband Ajay stay in Sahakar Nagar, Nagpur. Younger daughter Dr Gayatri has completed her MBBS and has joined her father.

 

Wg Cdr (retd) Vinay Sagdeo, who stays in Nagpur, described his brother as a man with rock solid determination. “Over the years, he has ushered in several changes not only in healthcare but also empowerment of tribals. Today, Swami Vivekanand Medical Mission Trust hospital at Muttil has become a symbol of trust. Many a time, tribals from remote areas of district come to him at odd hours and want him first to check their patient before moving into hospital. He has earned so much trust with his hard work,” he added.