Posted By :  Admin1

Dr. Sukhwinder Singh Sandhu, who was only nine years old when he left Punjab with his parents for the United States in 1970, is now 63 years old and has become an acclaimed specialist in internal medicine and gastroenterology. He has embarked on a journey back to his roots in Punjab, driven by a noble cause.  Sandhu, who pursued his studies at prestigious institutions like the University of California, Medical College of Wisconsin, and Stanford University, currently holds the position of clinical assistant professor at Stanford School of Medicine. He has returned to Punjab to organize special free medical camps for villagers in Moga district. Reconnecting with his origins, Sandhu organized a three-day free medical camp at Sardarni Sukhminder Kaur Memorial Charitable Hospital in Lohara village of Moga. Over the past three days, he has been providing medical consultations to underprivileged patients. And Sandhu didn't make the journey alone. Accompanying him are both of his children: his son, Dr. Jeevan Singh Sandhu, and his daughter, Keerat Kaur, a medical student. Sandhu stated that he wanted his children to experience "where they belong," and to immerse themselves in Punjab's rich culture and heritage. Having pursued his fellowship in gastroenterology at Stanford University and specializing in hospice and palliative medicine, Sandhu conveyed his distress at the sight of numerous people in Punjab enduring various illnesses, particularly in the Malwa belt of the state, renowned for its polluted groundwater and air. Sandhu, who hails from Mahalo village in Nawanshahr (Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar) district, shared his profound sadness as he examined patient after patient during the medical camp. He observed that individuals were suffering from a range of ailments affecting their stomachs, livers, lungs, and hearts, yet they lacked access to proper treatment and care. Despite the presence of modern medical equipment and treatments available through local doctors, the issue lay in accessibility.  Villagers were unable to access free healthcare services and couldn't afford private ones. When Sandhu inquired why they hadn't sought treatment earlier, they explained that they lacked the financial means to undergo essential tests like CT scans or MRIs. Sandhu found this reality simply heartbreaking. "I couldn't come earlier due to Covid, but this time I felt compelled to organize a camp in Punjab, my homeland," he explained. Kahan Singh Pannu, former IAS officer and chairman of the charitable hospital in Moga where the three-day camp took place, noted, "We spread the word in all nearby villages, urging those experiencing stomach-related issues or any other ailments to attend the camp. It became apparent that people in rural areas were silently suffering without access to necessary treatment." "They refrain from seeking medical attention out of fear that their condition might be serious, coupled with the inability to afford treatment. We believed that Sandhu's experience and expertise could be leveraged to aid the underprivileged. Thus, he examined patients for three days and provided them with advice on the best possible treatment."

Sandhu, who is also a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and has conducted medical missions in China and the Philippines, expressed shock upon discovering that villagers in Punjab were still walking for kilometers to reach healthcare facilities. "When I inquired about their origins, some mentioned coming from villages as far as 20 kilometers away. They recounted walking the entire distance, aware that a free medical camp was being held."

"They are deprived of basic treatment, and as years pass, diseases such as cancer, hepatitis, and others become untreatable. A significant number of these ailments stem from Punjab's contaminated water and air. I intend to come back here annually," stated Sandhu.