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| ‘Santhwanam’, Medical College, Pariyaram, Kannur |
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He is now a doctor in Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram. But when Prasanth was a student of MBBS at Medical College, Pariyaram, he and his friends chanced to help a destitute old woman who was knocked down by a private bus. After treatment, they took her to Pratyasha Bhavan, a rehabilitation centre. Leaning on his hand, as she stepped out of the ambulance, the old woman said nothing, but smiled with love and benediction.
It was then that Prasanth decided that no one should be denied treatment for want of money. So 4 years ago, Prasanth and his friends formed an organization, ‘Santhwanam’, on a Gandhi Jayanthi day. They collected medicines from doctors and medical representatives, arranged food from the hostel mess and became supports for the poor patients at their bedsides. But still, money was needed.
Acquaintances used to run away from Prasanth and his friends. But the reaction of Sasi, who runs a thatched coffee shop in front of the college, was unforgettable. When they tried to bypass him and go for fund collection elsewhere, Sasi called them and offered 5 ten rupee notes – the proceeds from the lunch on that day.”
After Prasanth and friends completed their course, the next batch took up the work of ‘Santhwanam’. All except one of the final year students are members of the organization that helped 350 patients in 2003.
Even after moving out of the Medical College, students and doctors keep contact with the organization and help with medicines. “If we wish to help someone, all obstacles will somehow vanish. And if we help someone, timely help is sure to come our way from somewhere or other,” says Manju, a final year student. “After each exam I remember Lazer, a patient. I had stood by him when he was here with kidney disorder. When he left the hospital he had said, “You will not fail in your exams. For our prayers are with you.”
Office of Santhwanam
Courtesy: Ranjith Nair (text), Pushpajan Thaliparambu (photo), Gruhalakshmi, September 2004
Contributed by: Administrator
