Seethamma

In the piligrim island of Rameswaram lives Seethamma a 45 years old lady who was widowed at the age of 30. Her husband was a fisherman...

In the piligrim island of Rameswaram lives Seethamma a 45 years old lady who was widowed at the age of 30. Her husband was a fisherman. After her husband’s death, it came upon Seethamma to be both the caretaker and the breadwinner of the family so that her three children would get a decent life. She did not know anything about work as she had been a housewife up until then. Anxiety about the children’s future and doubts about whether she could really fulfill this responsibility engulfed her. But she put her fears aside and looked for work. Fortunately she found work in a crab company as a daily wage laborer. It helped her earn Rs. 200 -300 per day. The income was sufficient and met the needs of the family. Now Seethamma’s children’s are studying in the local schools.

However recently, things were not going so well for Seethamma. She was falling ill quite often. Light fever and cold were the symptoms she experienced regularly. At the beginning she took a Crocin tablet and went to work. But it would give relief only for two days or so and then she would have the symptoms again. She would take the tablet again and then feel better for two days only. The cycle carried on for a long time. It was draining her of her strength. She was unable to work too. Even in this condition she was worried about her children and not meeting their needs because she wasn’t earning. To top it her neighbors were talking about various dangerous fevers and she was scared that she might have been infected by one of those. Lack of work left her with no money to see a good doctor. The children were also worried about their mom and had stopped going to school.

One day, Seethamma heard an announcement about a free medical camp that would be conducted in her village. She waited for that day. This was Operation Blessing India’s (OBI) camp which was conducted partnering of Gilgal Charitable trust in the month of November 2009. OBI conducted the medical camp in her village called Susaipparpattinam. Seethamma came to medical camp where she was examined and pathology lab tests were referred. The OBI lab technician took her blood sample for tests and gave a report on the tests done. The result came out negative for malarial and typhoid fever.    

The doctor advised Seethamma not to worry and explained that it was a viral fever only and none of the terrible diseases she was worried she had. The doctor also gave her some antibiotics, cough syrup and protein powder for her. She was advised to take more vegetables and iron-filled food regularly. She was also given vitamins tablets that would last for a whole month. Seethamma was very happy after receiving the medicines and hearing the comforting words from the OBI doctor. She was very happy and thanked OBI for the great service and for helping her to come out from her fears. She went home happily with her medicines.

Speaking of the needs that the camp met, Dr. Mallika Chidambaram, founder of Gilgal charitable trust said “No one given medicines as ob given, thanks for the good and quality medicines to the poor and needy people.”