Hampshire Hotels and the Sandstone Story were delighted at the success of a free medical camp they organised at Stanger Hospital recently, in which volunteer doctors (a number of whom travelled from overseas) dedicated their time and expertise.
The purpose of the camp was to examine patients from the local community, perform operations on needy patients and provide consultations and advice on ear, nose and throat medical problems.
The camp was staffed by well-known and erudite ear, nose and throat specialists (ENT), optometrists and anaesthetists and took place from Monday November 22, until Wednesday, November 24.
The team was be led by Dr Nitin Shah, a board certified anaesthesiologist and intensivist, who is currently the professor of anaesthesiology at Loma Linda University and the chief of surgical ICU at Long Beach Veterans Health care system.
The doctors worked on a voluntary basis, paying for their own flights into Africa and Hampshire Hotels showed their generosity by sponsoring the charitable doctors with free accommodation and meals for the duration of the clinic.
Ajit Bhakta and Veno Nathraj, Hampshire Hotel directors and African-born, US businessmen, say they have always wanted to make a difference in the lives of underprivileged Africans and felt that this was the perfect opportunity.
“I’ve always wanted to contribute as much as possible to the people of Africa and my fellow directors and investors feel the same,” said Bhakta.
Job creation
“Opening up our chain of hotels has achieved a part of this goal for us in terms of job creation and investment, but we wanted to do even more. A big goal of ours has been to contribute meaningfully to the health and education of underprivileged Africans,” said Nathraj.
The free ENT medical camp at Stanger Hospital realised this goal for both the directors at Hampshire Hotels and the owners of the Sandstone Story – Hampshire Hotel’s appointed stone supplier.
Another component of their intended outreach initiatives involves an educational programme for an Eastern Free State school. Hammonia School and its 106 pupils will soon be hosting a number of US based teachers who have volunteered to teach at the school.
“I am so proud to be involved in initiatives like these. Eight months ago, when Hampshire Hotels opened, we spoke of introducing health and education programmes like this – and now it’s actually happening,” said Bhakta. “The ENT camp is the first of these programmes to be launched in South Africa, and we are so proud at this achievement. My happiest moment was seeing all the patients and the difference we have actually made in their lives. That is what we wanted most of all,” said Nathraj.
Nathraj and Bhakta have also organised a similar – and recently concluded – project in Malawi, and are looking forward to planning other projects that will assist underprivileged communities throughout Africa.