AarogyaSeva, the name itself suggests that it is a platform where medical and health care services are offered. AarogyaSeva is offering a micro-volunteering, flexible platform across health care industry, including sectors like hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, private practitioners as well as health care service providers of various specialties.
The global health volunteer alliance is extending a helping hand for the needy across the globe. The non-profit organization registered in Phoenix, USA, was established to offer sustainable, local and comprehensive health care for no or low cost to marginalized communities in India, Nepal, Rwanda, USA, Morocco, Mexico and Haiti.
Journey from Tsunami relief to Healthcare Non-profit
Dr. Dayaprasad G. Kulkarni, founder-director of AarogyaSeva, began the journey with Tsunami relief efforts in 2004, when Tsunami hit many countries including India. He went a long way to create a platform like AarogyaSeva, which marks health care volunteerism. He realized the potential of the methodology that he developed to scale up and bring in more stakeholders and even serve several patients as a large hospital in coming years. He worked for more than ten years as a doctor in the non-profit space, serving patients free of charge. According to him, “I believe healthcare is not a commodity. I have never charged my patients, and I’ve been doing this since I graduated.”
Serving patients in local marginalized communities
Due to lack of government resources, transportation, armed conflicts as well as other obstacles, several marginalized communities are not able to gain access to health care and thus, AarogyaSeva is reaching the needy. So far more than 100000 got benefited and the organization is hoping to touch one million lives in the coming two years with the help of nearly 25000 volunteers. Recently, the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations has recognized AarogyaSeva and even invited to join the Global Innovation Exchange as partners. The CHMI website also profiled AarogyaSeva
AarogyaSeva is providing a platform for both healthcare and non-healthcare professionals to offer services at their convenience and patients to gain from quality services. Currently the organization has several programs including Doctor at School; Disaster Response Relief and Rehabilitation; Doctor at Community; Medical Yatra
Rural Health Initiative; Inclusion Campaign; and Elderly Care – Healthcare for the elderly.
Story of Megha at AarogyaSeva
The story of little Megha is just an instance of the service offered by Phoenix Based non-profit AarogyaSeva. Megha who was born in a small village in Meghalaya on September 2015 had to fly 10000 miles across oceans to get the best treatment and undergo a unique surgery to get a chance to see the world. David and Mary Khongmawloh, Megha’s parents are differently abled parents. David has glaucoma and Malignant hyperthermia. Megha Sophia, David’s daughter was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Axenfeld Rieger syndrome. Congenital glaucoma is one of its characteristic.
Surgery became an option for Megha to fight glaucoma. The challenge here was to provide anaesthesia to little Megha as routine anaesthesia was impossible because Megha could have Malignant Hyperthermia. A team of doctors brought together by AarogyaSeva performed the surgery and are even following up treatment.
Dr Kulkarni said, “I first heard about Megha in November and suggested to a common friend that we at AarogyaSeva might be able to help. Both Ted and Adithya were skeptical and did not want to make false promises to Megha’s parents. I assured him that we will do all we can to ensure she gets the best treatment available. She immediately reminded me of Ritesh. Ritesh’s parents had struggled for more than 6 years and had almost given up hope when I met first met them. When I told David and Mary about how within 6 months from that meeting, the boy from Assam had undergone a cochlear implant almost exactly a year ago on January 2nd 2015 from one of the best ENT surgeons in India at the best facility in Delhi, they were confident and hopeful.”
- Sumana
