Heal the world with free medicine

December 5, 2008

There are people around the world who face extreme adversity and oppression.

They think only of survival. These people have almost nothing to live for, and yet they live. Their will is their strongest asset.

Their goal is simply to live. One wonders why they have such simple or straightforward goals.

Maybe it is because they cannot dream of anything more.

Despite crippling disease, widespread poverty, and lawlessness, they push themselves to exist.

Some of the privileged people in the world care to help them, but most would simply turn a blind eye.

My goal is to help those people; the ones whom the world castes away like decomposed food.

My ultimate goal is to build a large chain of free hospitals around the world, so that those who are always on the short end of the stick can still get treatment for some of the chronic diseases.

I am quite aware that this chain of hospital will be a heavy financial burden in itself, but the needs of the many should come before the needs of the one.

When I was young, I thought everyone in the world was the same.

I believed that we all had a place we could call home, a mother and a father, a good education.

I thought every child had a warm bed to sleep in and could wake up to a bright new day.

I thought the worst ailment you could possibly endure was a cold, and one sip of Tylenol would make it all better.

Sadly, I now know the world is a much darker place.

There are areas of the world where a ‘doctor’ is a mythical being said to descend upon mortals with a healing light.

These areas are some of the most impoverished places on Earth; places where a young girl must work twenty hours a day to bring her family one loaf of bread;

Where a boy must wake up early every morning to make sure his sister is still there.

In a place like this, the streets speak volumes about the dire situation of its inhabitants.

Here, people with Polio feel like an outcast, afraid to make contact with anyone else.

Having just one free hospital in a place like this would drastically alter the conditions of the area, and the social behavior.

Obviously, I cannot run this hospital alone. I will need an armada of people whose selflessness transcends their narcissism.

Their work will be mostly volunteered; this is why they need to understand my cause, so that they know what they are investing their time in.

The hospitals will be built all around the world, offering any kind of treatment needed.

Any person will be able to walk in and get treated, free of charge.

I can only hope the world is as willing to help itself as I am.

Thank you.

Kanish Arhant-Sudhir

Written by Padmini Arhant · Filed Under Humanitarian | Leave a Comment 

Health Care

October 11, 2008

Courtesy: Nobelprize.org – Thank you.

Press Release

6 October 2008

The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has today decided to award

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2008 with one half to Harald zur Hausen for his discovery of “human papilloma viruses causing cervical cancer”and the other half jointly to Françoise Barré Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier for their discovery of “human immunodeficiency virus”.

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Congratulations! to the recipients on the highest honor for their contributions to “Health Science”.

The medical community has achieved breakthroughs in most areas of health science. The quest for cure continues in all facets of modern medicine through scientific research and development.

Nevertheless, the challenge being, the achievement not shared among the general population even in the most advanced nation like the United States. Unfortunately, the average citizen cannot afford the best medical treatment due to the lack of Universal Health Care for the entire population.

The discussion on health care in the current “Presidential race” emphasized the need and urgency to care for the sick. However, there are no specifics provided to the public with respect to fund allocation and general layout.

The candidates have elaborated on the general plan. It is still important to disclose the exact costs involved to provide national health care. Besides, appropriation of funds for this purpose, the policy must detail the choices, if any, to the public and whether there are any fixed costs allocated in the health care budget.

The deductibles on all of the health care plans offered by various groups in the insurance industry exponentially rises with the rising costs of health care reflecting inflation. In this category, the lower and middle income population is the most vulnerable of all.

Attempts in the past towards general health care to the mainstream population fell short of targets predominantly due to the lack of “structured plan”. Within the nucleus of the health care plan, organization is required for different health care needs and priorities. The reason being, each segment of the population fall under different categories.

It is equally important to include the veteran groups and their families’ health care costs. Again, the G.I.bill should have a provision in this regard. The mental health care patients’ insurance costs were included in the recent $700 billion “bailout” legislation. Congress’ action is noteworthy in this regard. The Senior Citizens, is another group deserving immediate attention and focus for their various situations.

The investments on “preventive medicine” always pay off in the end. Whether it is prenatal, neonatal, infant care or adolescent and all the way through geriatric programs. All programs catering towards healthy life style cuts health care costs considerably for the nation. Therefore, the health care policy should vigorously promote and provide incentives to organizations involved in this effort.

Health care is more effective and efficient with minimal external intervention from the government and insurance industry alike. The government should facilitate the program by making it affordable to the wide cross section of the society. At the same time, it should leave the decision making process on patients health to the patient and the professionals involved.

The United States, as an industrialized nation should prioritize health care to all citizens and invest more in educational programs for youth to address issues like; obesity, teenage pregnancies and other social problems contributing to the health care costs.

In terms of humanitarian aid, the United States has always been in the forefront to help other nations combat various health crises. It has earned special recognition in helping the international community reach the milestone with the “AIDS” epidemic. The task is not over and the achievement thus far is praiseworthy.

The concept….“Health is Wealth” is the stepping stone towards peace, progress and prosperity for all nations.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Written by Padmini Arhant · Filed Under Health | Leave a Comment