Vision for the Karunamayi Free Hospital.

Those who cannot afford the busfare to the nearest hospital must endure their pain silently for months or even years before getting proper help. Amma has often said of these humble people that they are very rich in faith, devotion, and inner strength, despite their outward poverty. But when a medical crisis strikes, no amount of inner strength can overcome the fact that the nearest hospital is simply too far away to provide timely and affordable medical help.

During her time in the Penusila Forest, Amma became intimately familiar with the problems facing the local villagers. Feeling a responsibility to relieve their pain, she arranged for medical camps to be held as often as funds would allow, so that people would not have to live with painful conditions unnecessarily. These medical camps were held in makeshift tents within Amma's Penusila Ashram, and free care and medicines were offered to all who came. Doctors who were told to expect maybe 500 patients would often be overwhelmed by 2000. People would come by foot, having walked barefoot for days for the rare chance to be seen by a doctor. Many had never seen a doctor in their entire lives, and would refuse to sit in the chairs provided for them, choosing instead to sit on the floor out of respect for the volunteer physicians.

Then one year, disaster struck at a temple near Amma's ashram. A thatched roof had caught fire and collapsed on dozens of people assembled beneath it. Many were burned badly, and without phone service or decent roads, it was impossible for them to get medical help. When she heard of the disaster, Amma mobilized her ashram volunteers to provide whatever first aid they could, as well as food and water for the victims.

After spending days comforting and ministering to the injured, Amma finally broke down in tears, sobbing unconsolably, unable to bear the pain of the victims' suffering. Stricken with grief, like a mother whose child had died, Amma refused all food for days. Thinking ceaselessly about the lack of accessible medical care, Amma felt determined to find a way to prevent such suffering from ever happening again. From that painfully tragic experience, the vision for the Sri Karunamayi Free Hospital was born.

Amma's vision for the Sri Karunamayi Free Hospital is that it will be, first and foremost, an oasis of compassionate medical care for the 500,000 villagers who live in the impoverished Penusila Kshetram area. Once completed, the hospital will provide both inpatient and outpatient services free of charge, and will also operate a mobile unit that will provide free medicines and basic care to those in the most remote villages. The design of the hospital represents a harmonious union between modern technology and Vastu-the ancient Vedic science of creating positive energy through proper building design. By aligning the hospital building with the Earth's natural energies, an energy will be fostered that will support the healing process in patients.

The Hospital Is Now Open as an Outpatient Clinic

SMVA Trust is happy to announce that the Sri Karunamayi Free Hospital offered its first free outpatient clinic on December 29th, 2002! Even though the clinic was only advertised by word of mouth, over five hundred people traveled by foot to be seen by the volunteer doctors. The Nellore District Director of Medical and Health Services, as well as fourteen medical doctors, were there for the occasion, and they have pledged their commitment to making sure that free medical care is offered to the people of Penusila. Doctors from outside the local area have offered to do specialized clinics; an eye surgery camp was held in January, and plans are underway for a cleft lip and palate surgery camp. Because malnutrition and improper sanitary conditions are a major cause of illness in this area, one of the volunteer doctors is putting together an educational program that will teach the local people how to prevent illness through proper sanitation and nutrition. He plans to operate as a mobile unit so that he can reach as many of the villagers as possible.

Until the hospital can operate as an inpatient facility, free outpatient clinics will be conducted every Sunday. If any patient seen at the clinic requires surgery or hospitalization, SMVA Trust will cover the costs of transportation to the nearest hospital as well as pay for any necessary medical services.

Help Bring Compassionate Care to Penusila Kshetram

The hospital has only come this far because of the kindness and generosity of the many devotees around the world who have made financial contributions to the hospital project. It is expected that the Sri Karunamayi Free Hospital will be able to open as a 30-bed primary care unit in the very near future, but this will only be possible with continued financial support.

Although many doctors have graciously offered their services for free, funds are still needed for medicines, supplies, proper equipment, and final construction costs in order to complete the hospital facility. Your tax-deductible contribution, in any amount, will help make a difference in the lives of so many people who would otherwise be denied access to proper health care. If you would like to make a donation toward the hospital project, please print out and complete the Donation Form. If you would like more information, or if you would like to volunteer your services for the hospital project, please email hospital@karunamayi.org.

Endowment Sponsorship

For those who are able, a one-time gift of $1000 or more will serve as a perpetual endowment that will pay for crucially needed medical care for many patients annually. With your permission, we would like to commemorate your kind gesture by inscribing the name(s) of your choice on a plaque placed near the hospital's entrance.

Care Sponsorship

Your sponsorship in the form of $100, $75, or $50 will help cover the full medical expenses of up to sixteen critically ill patients, including regular examinations, lab tests, and life-saving medications. We hope you'll accept our thanks in the form of a beautiful certificate of appreciation.