Dr. Dhananjay Diwakar Sagdeo - A doctor turns messiah to the tribal community for over four decades!
Dr. Dhananjay Diwakar Sagdeo has been doing the noble work of serving tribals of Wayanad for 4 decades
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- Kinjal Yogesh Dixit
Dr. Dhananjay Diwakar Sagdeo, who just received the Padma Shri award this past week, has been doing the noble work of serving the tribals of Muttil, Wayanad, for well over 4 decades now. After the doctor received the award from President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, he said that he would continue to empower the tribal community by providing them with better health, education and helping them more self-reliant.
It was some 41 years ago, when a young Dhananjay Diwakar Sagdeo from Nagpur, decided to dedicate his life to serving people. After completing his medical education from Indira Gandhi Government Medical College, he moved to tribal area of Wayanad, Kerala. Here, he started serving tribals. It started as a small health-care unit, but has now bloomed into an umbrella of initiatives and, a place that the people trust.
In 1980, he made Kalpetta in Wayanad district of Kerala his second home. He is a man who is rooted firmly in values of serving his motherland, and is inspired by thoughts of Swami Vivekananda and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Sagdeo is an alumnus of Hadas High School, Nagpur, and is highly respected in Kerala. His model of empowerment of tribals, especially those who are affected due to Sickle Cell, is working wonders.
In 1980, he made Kalpetta in Wayanad district of Kerala his second home. He is a man who is rooted firmly in values of serving his motherland, and is inspired by thoughts of Swami Vivekananda and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Sagdeo is an alumnus of Hadas High School, Nagpur, and is highly respected in Kerala. His model of empowerment of tribals, especially those who are affected due to Sickle Cell, is working wonders.
After qualifying as MBBS doctor, Sagdeo went to Kalpetta. During the time, not many parents encouraged their children to move away from them, and that too for social service in some remote area of the country. But his parents, Diwakarrao and Saroj - thought differently.
When a young Dhananjay went to Wayanad, he faced many challenges, like acceptance to language. Wayanad has several tribes; and tribals had certain taboos back then. They were reluctant to take medicine. But he was determined and had mentally prepared himself. Gradually, selfless work with confidence and consistency started yielding positive results. Today, the change is for all to see.
When a young Dhananjay went to Wayanad, he faced many challenges, like acceptance to language. Wayanad has several tribes; and tribals had certain taboos back then. They were reluctant to take medicine. But he was determined and had mentally prepared himself. Gradually, selfless work with confidence and consistency started yielding positive results. Today, the change is for all to see.
Sagdeo began a small clinic at Muttil. Today, it has developed into a modern facility with in-patient care - maternity care, outpatient clinic with full-time doctors, X-ray and Ultrasound facilities, laboratory, pharmacy, etc. It has 6 sub-centres run by mobile units that take healthcare to the doorsteps of tribals. The centre also provides specialty care in ophthalmology, paediatrics, ENT by doctors who visit on a regular basis.
The most important part of his work has been in the field of Sickle Cell. It was most prevalent among tribals. In 1999, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, joined with Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission Trust to introduce the pilot project. Over 70% of tribals were screened. He said that after screening, they issued red, blue, and white cards to patients, carriers, and non-affected persons respectively. These cards helped in marriage counselling, thereby reducing the sufferings of people.
The centre has an active microscopic and treatment centre, and works in field of TB treatment too. Other initiatives include alcohol rehabilitation programme, work as ‘Mother NGO’ for Wayanad district to implement various National Rural Health Programmes. It also helps in organising self-help groups, micro insurance programmes. It has also established around 100 ‘Vidya Kendra’ (coaching centres) with small libraries and reading rooms.
The doctor is serving the society with mission’s 5-point programme, that is, Shikshan (education), Swasthya (healthcare), Sanskar (grooming), Swavalamban (self-reliance), and Samajik (social work).
The most important part of his work has been in the field of Sickle Cell. It was most prevalent among tribals. In 1999, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, joined with Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission Trust to introduce the pilot project. Over 70% of tribals were screened. He said that after screening, they issued red, blue, and white cards to patients, carriers, and non-affected persons respectively. These cards helped in marriage counselling, thereby reducing the sufferings of people.
The centre has an active microscopic and treatment centre, and works in field of TB treatment too. Other initiatives include alcohol rehabilitation programme, work as ‘Mother NGO’ for Wayanad district to implement various National Rural Health Programmes. It also helps in organising self-help groups, micro insurance programmes. It has also established around 100 ‘Vidya Kendra’ (coaching centres) with small libraries and reading rooms.
The doctor is serving the society with mission’s 5-point programme, that is, Shikshan (education), Swasthya (healthcare), Sanskar (grooming), Swavalamban (self-reliance), and Samajik (social work).