I was recommended to detail about the work that was done during the dental camps I visited last month. I figured that by sharing, I can perhaps shed some light on a part of India that few people are aware of.
My mother, Dr Pratibha Athavale, has been conducting dental camps as a freelancer for seventeen years. This means there is no government, religious or politically driven body behind this. She ties up with different socio-voluntary organisations whose the only objective is “seva” or service. And that too in the part of the country mostly neglected. The states she has visited are mostly the seven sisters in the North-East India, home to hundreds of tribes and thousands of dialects, which are often limited since there is NO script.
Some of the tribes are relatively developed and have access (albeit broken) to power, network, education etc. On the other hand, some are still clad in loincloths and lead primitive lifestyles. The sanitation checks start from making them aware of the importance of washing their hands and mouths let alone brushing their teeth. This has led to her working with and for all sorts of people – and the takeaway is the same. We may be distinct in terms of culture and traditions but our core values are the same.
This year the camp was in Manipur covering three tribal villages and the camps were for three days in each. A little less than 1000 patients were treated in total – the treatments including scalings and extractions. Medication was provided and clinical advise was also given on a case by case basis. Needless to say, this was completely free of cost! It was amazing to see my mom in such a different light. She was super-woman! At 64, she was on her feet from 7 to 7 with cups of tea and light snacks as sustenance. She needed no fuel – she was operating on pure will and determination.
How does a dental camp work given the complexity of equipments? Well, over the years based on her experiences, Mom has put together a portable clinic complete with a dental chair, compressor, sterilizer and the other fancy stuff. A doctor by profession, she channeled her untapped engineering mind into assembling this.
A great team based in the different states ensures operational stability in the camps. These people have given up their families, their jobs and dedicated their lives completely for the upliftment of these tribes. While the impact at the ground level happens in oral health, another subtle yet powerful turn takes place in the minds of the people. There is a human connect happening with these tribes that has never happened before or has always been at a very base level. This medium starts a dialogue which can further progress into a potential road to bring them into mainstream society!
I was lucky to be a part of this movement for sometime and tried to make a small difference. After a long time, I came back with a sense of community! It’s a good feeling alright.
Do let me know if you have more questions or wish to support the different initiatives taking place for the North-East states.
this is so appreciative and humanitarian – amazing!!
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Thank you very much 🙂
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Really good to see such humanitarian acts, your mother is a great woman, Prajakta 🙂
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Thank you so much 🙂
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Kudos to your mother, Prajakta.
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Absolutely 🙂 Thanks Rupali!
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lovely
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Thanks!
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What a wonderful way to make a difference 🙂
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Absolutely 🙂
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Hats off!👍👍👍
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Thank you! 🙂
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What a wonderful work she is doing.
Really appreciative.
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Thank you very much 🙂
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Appreciative.
It’s a great deed of kindness, generosity and service that you people are doing 👏👏👏👏
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Thanks a lot 🙂
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😃
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What a lovely Post Prajakta, and I offer my admiration of your Mom’s work. If only more people would forget accumulating possessions and simply give of themselves, the world would be so much happier. The reward for serving the less fortunate is a great inner satisfaction that you are using your own skills and attributes in order to help them. That sense of fulfillment can rarely (in my experience) be found in a regular job.
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In this way, my Mom is one of the lucky people who make a difference through their profession! Thank you so much for reading 🙂
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But she is lucky by choice Prajakta. She could no doubt earn a much higher income from practising in a large city, but she presumably realizes where her sensitivities are… and clearly wanted to make a difference in others lives. Blessed are those who serve others.
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A fascinating story and so upbeat for a Monday morning! Your mother is quite amazing.
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She really is! Thank you very much for reading 🙂
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How lovely to be a part of this amazing process.
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It really was a great experience! Thanks Robbie 🙂
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My utmost respect for your mom, Prajakta! Not many people in India have ample knowledge about the NE states. For them, the boundary of India is up to West Bengal, or at the most, Assam. She is doing such a wonderful job for the tribals of these states… hats off to her.
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Absolutely! There is a need to create awareness and I hope it becomes a reality soon. Thank you 🙂
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I’m so glad you got to see your mother in this light and that you helped her. I bet she liked having you there. I’m inspired since she is only a couple years older than me. I hope she takes some time to relax and recharge after her awesome service.
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It was great to see a side of Mom that went beyond her usual “Mom” role. She came back refreshed after this work, it rejuvenates her 🙂
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Yay!
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So.. inspiring.. my FriEnd Prajakta NoW..
For this selfless giving/sharing of Expert
Skills in Dentistry among
those in the North
East States
of your
Country India with
the least amount of
access to Modern Technologies
that do help with all Hygienes
to Prevent Disease as it’s
true all areas of
Sanitation
have
cured more Human
Disease than all of Medicine
combined for eliminating so many
Bubonic Plagues of life.. so.. sure.. even
the so-called lowest classes or as ‘they’
say castes that provide Sanitation are actually
the Greatest
among us
in
Preventing Disease
and of course it helps
to have teeth to do the most
basics of eating and i’m not surprised
that ‘the locals’ didn’t complain about the injections
for surely they have experienced enough rugged real
life challenge
in the Country
Side of Free
ways from Modern
Medicines that they have all
Naturally learned to cure their
own pain as that comes through the
all Natural Healing Potentials within that
really only come in innate.. instinctual
and intuitive ways
of Hands
on Wilder
and Freer ways of
Life as aLWays a Balance
mY Friend.. A Foundation of Love
And Grace that your Mom surely Brings to this
Story that truly is what makes Will and Strength ReaL
too as shared
and
given to
others.. Bravo
to her and you too.. mY FriEnd..
For Helping other Folks Free Like This..
For Those wHo JusT Do It Are The Richest oF aLL..:)
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Your mother and her work are inspiring. Thank you for reminding us of the importance of community service.
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Hats off to your mom dear….
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This is really amazing!!!!
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What a fantastic selfless act of service! Stands out in stark comparison to the horror stories one hears about big hospitals and their uncharitable ways.
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Deep Gratitude to Aunty and all the visible & invisible forces! 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thank You for sharing! 🙂
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I m intern dentist from Govt dental college, ahmedabad . I have attended two medical camps in North East organised by sewa bharati and NMO in my student life.I wish to join Dr pratibha mam for the noble cause by doing dental camps at various locations in india.
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Hi Mehul, great work! If you are still interested please share your e-mail ID and I will get in touch with you.
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