Medical Camp Ministry in Springfield, Virginia

                                                         March 23, 2013

“The patients’ welfare must be your topmost priority. Serve them with dedication. Service to patients is service to God. There is no service higher than this.” —Sathya Sai Baba (1)

A significant portion of the adult population in the United States does not have access to regular health care. Many of these individuals are undocumented, decreasing their ability to access traditional health care. This has resulted in a steady increase in the use of emergency room facilities for routine and urgent care, adding stress to an already overburdened health care system.

An Ecumenical Community Effort

Sathya Sai Baba has repeatedly said that medical aid should be the right of every individual, regardless of caste, creed, nationality, or color. With this in mind, the Sathya Sai Baba Centers of South Bethesda (Maryland), Fairfax (Virginia), Loudoun (Virginia), and Virginia Beach (Virginia) collaborated with Ecumenical Community Helping Others (ECHO) and the Springfield Christian Church on 23 March 2013 to provide a health and dental screening camp for a population of mostly-Hispanic, mostly-undocumented adults with limited or no health care options.

The individuals served were all clients of ECHO, an all-volunteer, nonprofit social service agency that provides clothing, household items, and emergency food and financial assistance to low-income individuals in the Springfield and Burke cities of Virginia, USA.

God’s presence was felt, and divine guidance was apparent throughout the planning of the camp. Divine inspiration initiated the initial discussions between Sathya Sai Baba Center of South Bethesda and ECHO. ECHO’s facility does not have sufficient space to hold a medical camp, so the proposed medical camp was presented at a meeting of ECHO’s Board of Directors, composed of representatives of 26 religious congregations, along with a request for one of the congregations to host the medical camp.

Organizing the Camp

Springfield Christian Church (SCC) immediately offered their church. Logistics were worked out at a meeting between the Sai organization, ECHO, and SCC. A tour of the church’s facilities proved that it was the perfect space to hold a camp. There were sufficient rooms for reception, triage, medicine, dentistry, and childcare, and a kitchen/dining area to serve a light breakfast and hot lunch.

The call then went out to find Sai devotee medical professionals to serve during the camp. A stumbling block in getting sufficient doctors licensed in Virginia was removed when it was learned that doctors providing free medical care during a medical camp or similar event can obtain temporary volunteer licenses to permit them to practice in another state. Once we knew we had six doctors and two dentists (a third appeared the night before the camp), we knew we could serve up to 120 patients.

ECHO has over 4,500 registered clients, so the next hurdle was to decide which of ECHO’s clients to invite. We decided to invite those clients who lived in several housing complexes close to the church. They would be able to walk to the camp, eliminating the need to provide transportation. Invitations were sent, and based on the response, timed admission “tickets” were sent to the clients, ensuring a steady flow throughout the day.

The next obstacle was ensuring that communication would not be a barrier, as 98% of the clients were Hispanic with limited English. ECHO and SCC spread the word, and between our three organizations we organized sufficient bilingual volunteers to assist at registration, triage, each medical and dental station, the exit interview, and in the waiting areas.

The Day of the Camp

On the day of the camp, the combined three organizations provided six doctors, three dentists, and 40 nonmedical volunteers, including five triage volunteers, 15 bilingual volunteers, and SSE students (2) and Young Adults from the four Sai centers. Although this was the first time many of the volunteers had met, unity and camaraderie were displayed as the three groups worked together seamlessly, with the sole aim of ensuring the clients had the best possible care. The blissful and cheerful atmosphere was enhanced by the light breakfast and home-cooked vegetarian lunch that was served to all clients and volunteers.

During the camp, 92 clients were screened. After an exit interview, clients in need of follow-up care were able to register onsite with two outreach staff members from Fairfax County Community Health Centers Network, who provided them with a date to come to their clinic for free or reduced-cost follow-up care. While clients were being examined by doctors, child-care was provided. A total of 48 children participated in arts and crafts or games, or watched videos. All received a hot lunch before leaving.

The camp proceeded smoothly and was filled with a joy that we could not explain. God’s all-pervading love was in evidence throughout. As many of the clients do not go to doctors, they were understandably apprehensive, at first. But the love and caring shown by the doctors and all the volunteers quickly put their concerns to rest.

Sai Baba has said, “Doctors should infuse courage in the patients and speak soothingly, radiating compassion and love. While you are examining the patients, you should have smiling faces and talk to the patients sweetly,” (3) and “Doctors should win the hearts of the patients by talking to them with compassion and concern. Diseases are half cured when the doctors talk to the patients with love and consideration.” (4) This was certainly taken to heart by all of the doctors, as evidenced by the smiles on the faces of the clients.

The clients commented repeatedly on how grateful they were, how friendly everybody was, that nothing was overlooked, and on the loving care they received. One client commented that the camp was “very well-organized, run smoothly, and provided so many things; (these) families have no other options.”

Other comments included: “Fantastic!” “Muy bien!” “Very happy!” “Doctors very friendly. I was completely at ease.” “I will refer my friends.”

Another client shared that this was her first time to receive comprehensive baseline information. She couldn’t afford to pay for this, as the only time she would get medical care was in an emergency. Her mother had died of complications from diabetes, and she knew it was vitally important to have her blood checked regularly, but she had always had to choose between essentials (rent, food) and getting her blood checked and buying medicine. Now she is registered with the County and will be able to get ongoing care and medicines and still be able to pay her rent and buy food.

Volunteers’ Gratitude and Appreciation

One of the volunteers made the following observation: “What impressed me most was the human value of somebody listening to the clients and making recommendations, with no cost attached.”

Another volunteer observed, “The clients were so grateful to have professionals listen to their concerns and make recommendations.”

Several of the volunteers were impressed with how well the camp was organized and how smoothly it ran, and several said that they were “proud to have been involved.”

One of the volunteers shared the following: “It was really great and a pleasure to work with the whole team yesterday. Everyone did their part and it went very smoothly. Without everyone's support, it would not have been possible. To be honest, it wasn't stressful, even with no break time. All of us who attended the medical camp couldn’t stop talking today at the Sai center about how well organized and what a great experience it was! This gave me more energy and inspiration to participate in more service activities. Will definitely look forward for more opportunities to work together.”

ECHO’s President shared the following:

“The March 23 Medical Camp that we sponsored with the Sathya Sai Baba Service Organization was an entirely new venture for the Ecumenical Community Helping Others (ECHO). Although we have been in existence for over 45 years and presently serve over 4,500 clients, we have never been in the position to offer free medical and dental examinations to our clients, although we have explored the possibility of offering these services in the past. The Sathya Sai Baba Service Organization made this possible. The Medical Camp was sponsored by ECHO, organized and staffed by the Sathya Sai Baba Service Organization, and hosted by the Springfield Christian Church. It was, from the point of view of the clients, as well as all the partners in this venture, a resounding success. All of us who participated were profoundly impressed by the selfless service that the Sathya Sai Baba medical team and volunteers provided to our needy clientele…many of whom cannot afford to see a doctor or dentist. The humble caring of all the participants, the Sathya Sai medical team and volunteers, the Springfield Christian Church pastor and volunteers, and the indispensable ECHO volunteers, who helped in all capacities and also provided translation services, provide living testimony to the power of “Neighbors Caring for Neighbors.” We are deeply grateful to all involved and profoundly moved by the commitment and service of the Sathya Sai Baba Service Organization. We look forward to partnering again with the Sathya Sai Baba Service Organization in responding to the overwhelming need of our clientele. Peace and Blessings to All! Sai Ram!
Bob Diegelman, President, ECHO, Inc.”

During the Springfield Christian Church’s Sunday service the day after the medical camp, one of their volunteers shared the following with the congregants:

“Yesterday, (March 23), on the Sabbath, this place was abuzz. A throng of people were invited and came to receive blessings, to be honored, and it was to the glory of God. We were graced by the ministry of Sathya Sai, who, through ECHO, provided a medical camp in which many of the ECHO clients were invited to come and receive free medical screening, dental care, to participate in stress relief program, and to receive referrals for treatment and follow-up through the county health services, who were on hand to make sure these people would be welcomed at the clinics. They were provided food and hospitality. The food was wonderful and healthy, and I am so glad that we were able to provide hospitality here in this place.

“We set up all our chairs, some in the hallways outside the doctor and dentist stations, some in the narthex (sanctuary entrance), and others around tables in Dillon Hall (exit interview and dining hall), and they were filled. Like the gospel story of the great banquet, we were called to invite the people to come in and sit down in the sacred quiet of this sanctuary, to begin the welcome process. Then each person was enrolled and escorted to the triage station, where vital signs were assessed and put into their charts. I do not violate any HIPPA regulations when I tell you all these people not only had vital signs, but they were all more alive when they left than they had been before.

“We helped serve 92 clients, more children than I could count, who came with them, 30-40 volunteers, and on this Saturday, I remembered that it was the Sabbath, and we kept this a holy place. Yesterday there was real ‘church’ happening right here, big time.”

Sai Baba reminds us that “in fact, you are not doing service to others. You are doing it always to yourselves.” (5)

A volunteer expressed the same sentiment:“Our volunteers came to serve; instead, we left with the sense that we had been served! We became much more aware of the acute health care needs of the community that ECHO and The Springfield Christian Church serve, and their commitment to this cause is admirable.”

And another: “Thank you for providing me with the opportunity to participate in the Medical Camp and above all, thank you, God, for considering me fit and giving me the opportunity to do service.”

One of the coordinators of the camp spoke for all of us when he said, “It was so apparent that God handles everything when we surrender to him and let his WILL take over, especially when we are engaged in activities that please Him the most.”

We thank God for this service opportunity. With divine grace, guidance, and inspiration, the selfless service was conducted with love, unity, meticulous planning, and flawless execution in all areas. We pray for the opportunity to reach more of ECHO’s clients through additional medical camps.

 “Even more than the drugs the doctors prescribe, the sweet, soft words they speak and the love and sympathy they evince can cure better and quicker the illness of their patients. Look upon them as your own kith and kin, as your special guests and as your closest friends, and attend to them lovingly and with unflinching care. I call upon you to maintain this attitude in every situation.” —Sri Sathya Sai Baba(6)

Submitted by Medical Camp Team (Medical Director – Dr. Prasad Betadpur, Venkat Kodumudi, Dr. Sivakumar Sreenivasan, and Beth Clark)

Additional Info

(6) Sathya Sai Baba, 28 Aug 1976, “Hospitals and Health,” sss13-22.pdf.

To learn more about or join this service project, you may go to: http://us.sathyasai.org/index.html and click on the state or city in which the Sai Center project takes place. Click on “Email us for information about these Centers.” A local contact will respond to your email.

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