Sai Rehabilitation Programme (SRP) is a unique programme under which volunteers of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations help in follow up care of cardiac patients who have been operated in the Sri Sathya Sai Hospitals. 

This September marks one year since the states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and Jharkhand embarked upon the journey of SRP. In this cover story we will see how the programme is being implemented across these four states.  

With the Grace of Bhagawan Baba we started the SRP programme in Bihar.  In the first phase of the programme we started with identifying district wise in-charges for SRP followed by volunteers. These chosen members of the Sai Organisation were then given adequate training. There are around 2000 post cardiac surgery/procedure patients in Bihar and our endeavor was to make sure that, with the efforts of our sevadals, the patients should become capable to take care of themselves and also to develop an efficient local medical infrastructure, which can take care of any cardiac care needs the patients may have. Home visits to the patients started from Bhagawan’s Birthday on November 23, 2022.

It was decided to operationalize the SRP programme across all the districts of Bihar phase wise starting with Bhojpur, Patna, Siwan, Gopalganj, Gaya and Muzzafarpur. These districts were focused upon as the density of the patients was more in these districts. In these districts it was envisaged that every month in association with private hospitals a camp will be organized where all the cardiac patients from that specific district would undergo a cardiac checkup.

In the first phase a SRP clinic was started in the district of Bhojpur where on the second Sunday of every month from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm the SRP clinic is now operational.

In the second phase a SRP clinic was established in the district of Gopalganj where around 64 cardiac patients are getting benefited.

It is interesting to note that during the third phase in the district of Sivan when we approached a private hospital for help for starting a private clinic, the director of the hospital was so impressed that he made sure that his entire team was involved in the care of the Swami’s patients. Now the SRP clinic is being run on the first Monday of every month from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm.

In the fourth phase a mega SRP clinic was held in Patna where patients from the surrounding districts of Sheikhpura, Navada and Saharsa attended the clinic. Around 160 patients attended the clinic where they underwent blood tests, ECG and Echo Cardiography. 

With the Grace of Bhagawan Baba we are going from strength to strength in our effort to provide care at the door step on Swami’s Cardiac patients.

We started the implementation of the SRP in Madhya Pradesh, by educating our District Youth Coordinators (DYCs) regarding the SRP programme. We had multiple meetings where we explained to our DYCs what SRP program is and cleared their doubts.

During training we explained to them that the role of SRP coordinator is just a communicator between doctor and patient and that they should check for the well-being of the patient, understand their challenges in keeping themselves fit and to collect the data by which a doctor can judge the proper condition of the patient. 

After appointing the SRP coordinator we processed the patient’s data given by the hospitals and created a format in which the SRP coordinator would collect the data from the patient. This format included current vital information of the patient by which the actual condition of the patient can be easily judged, like, “Is the patient taking medicines regularly?”, “is he doing regular exercise?”, “which medical test is suggested by the hospital?”, “Is Lab available near the patient”, “Date of Last medical Test?”, “Date of Last medical checkup?”, “His/her latest medical report”, “Is he following a suggested diet plan” etc.

Once the SRP coordinator had the patients’ details and the format to collect data of the patient, they started visiting their nearby patients and collecting the data.

After completion of the first phase, we processed the data where the patient needed medical attention. We conducted an online telemedicine camp where we connected district wise patients to a Telemedicine center in Jabalpur where multiple heart specialist doctors were present.

Post consultation by the heart specialists the SRP coordinator again visited the patients to follow up on the suggestions given by the specialists. This was done with prior notice of date and time and connected them with the doctors directly. The doctor examined the patient on video call and consulted them.

In the 1st phase and we connected the patients with the team of doctors with the help of 3 heart specialists facilitated by the youth Sevadal in Jabalpur telemedicine camp.

With the Grace of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba soon we will be able to cover the entire state and provide care and relief at the doorstep of the patients.

The Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, Jharkhand received an independent charge on Gurupoornima 2018 so we are dedicated to spread the Divine Love of Swami. With the contribution of all the members, the Organisation is marching ahead.

In Jharkhand there are 24 districts and out of these in around 14 districts the service activities of the Sai Organisation are going on smoothly. From September 2021 the Jharkhand state started implementing the Sai Rehabilitation Programme.

We continuously receive monthly list of cardiac patients from SSSIHMS, Puttaparthi and SSSIHMS, Whitefield. As part of the SRP programme our volunteers are in constant touch with all the patients.

After the programme started, in each district a SRP coordinator has been appointed. In each district the SRP coordinator in collaboration with the District President and the Samiti Convener is reaching out to the cardiac patients residing in that specific area. In those areas, which do not yet have Sai Organisation’s presence, the SRP volunteers of neighbouring Samities are taking the initiative and reaching out and contacting the patients.

In remote areas where physically reaching the patients is not possible immediately for various reasons, the Sevadal volunteers speak to them over the phone and then decide to visit them at a later date according to the patients’ convenience.

We have been able to smoothly integrate the SRP programme into the existing weekly medical clinics we organize. 

SRP patients are informed to attend the clinics either during the home visits or through phone. In the medical camps their tests are performed and post the test results they consult doctors associated with our Sai Organisation. This saves them a lot of money and there is better compliance as they have been tested and consulted by the members of Swami’s Organisation.

Through this beautiful programme of Swami, our volunteers and patients have been able to experience the Grace of Bhagawan Baba for which we are eternally grateful to Swami"

With Swami’s immense Grace Maharashtra has been given an opportunity to serve cardiac patients under SRP. We are regularly receiving the details of patient from SSSIHMS, Puttaparthi and Whitefield.

In the initial phase, a meeting was held with the representatives of SSSIHMS, Prasanthigram and SSSIHMS, Whitefield and also Dr. Sathya Swaroop Patnaik where we understood the various aspects of the SRP Seva. After detailed discussion at our state level various members of the Maharashtra and Mumbai Sai Organisation were allocated the posts of overall SRP Seva coordinator and similar posts at the district level.

After we received the details of patients from SSSIHMS Prasanthigram and Whitefield, our State Medical Coordinators contacted the respective patients and enquired about the post operation progress of their health. They also informed the patients that they can contact him for any further guidance.

After the discussion, the SRP Coordinator the concerned District President is given the details of the patient. The District President then informs the SRP Sevadal/ SRP in-charge or Seva Doctor to follow up with the patient. They also keep regular contact with the patient for any further need.