Healing With The Power of Hope
Aster DM Healthcare
Aster DM Healthcare is a dream of a young man from Kerala. It is a story, of his commitment and conviction, that of his family and the team, across the world, to give back to the society. This gets reflected in the activities of Aster DM Foundation and Aster Volunteers. In the next few pages, we can only get a peep into the work that the foundation and volunteers have done or doing. But it will give the large picture of Aster DM Healthcare’s definition of charity and volunteerism, about the organisation and its people.
Aster DM Foundation was established as a
non-profit charitable
organization by leading Indian Physician, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist
Dr Azad Moopen – the Founder Chairman & Managing Director of Aster
DM Healthcare – a leading Healthcare Conglomerate spread across nine
countries in Middle East and Asia. Aster DM Foundation is the broad
umbrella under which the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of Aster
DM Healthcare and Philanthropic initiatives of Dr Moopen are being
carried out. Aster DM Foundation's Aster Volunteers Global Programme
is a critical initiative that each employee is passionately associated with
across the globe. It reflects the dream of Dr. Azad Moopen.
Giving back to
the society has always been a part of the culture at Aster
DM Healthcare, personally driven by Dr. Azad Moopen since the inception
of the company in 1987. His philosophy that profit should be a by-product
and not the aim in healthcare, transcends across the core values of the
organisation- Compassion, Integrity and Respect, and this inspired the
introduction of many CSR initiatives to help the needy. MIMS Charitable
Trust came into existence in Kerala in early 2000s, closely followed by
Aster DM Foundation and Dr. Moopen’s Family Foundation. In 2017, on
occasion of Aster’s 30th anniversary, Aster Volunteers Global programme
was introduced which is today at the forefront of driving all the CSR
activities for Aster. Initiated to bridge the gap between people who would
like to help with those in need, the programme is now preparing for a
giant leap.
Aster Volunteers are people, from both medical as well as non-medical services, continuously working towards making a positive difference in the lives of people. It is a continuously growing force, that is currently more than 8000 plus (registered volunteers), both internal employees and external volunteers. Volunteerism has assumed new meaning with Aster DM Foundation, with efforts making a tangible difference in the lives of millions of people. It has been a boon for the disadvantaged sections of the society in 9 countries and beyond.
MILES program has transformed the lives of many young children with soft skills training
The Aster Volunteers programme functions within a multidimensional framework known as the ‘Big 6’. These dimensions guide the many social interventions to help the communities and needy individuals. Broadly they can be defined as: Mobile Medical Service facilities, Basic Life Support (BLS) Awareness program, Free surgeries and investigations, Recruitment of differently abled, Medical camps and Humanitarian Aid. The activities in the areas of Health, Hygiene and Education are a reflection ofAster’s commitment to create a sustainable impact in the lives of people. This novel and pious approach of building volunteers for the health sector in the country and in the world is bound to touch many more lives in the days to come.
It is satisfying to see the happiness in volunteerism for people with special needs. Above: The Big 6 is growing as you read and the numbers are increasing. It respresents the soul of Aster Volunteers and the commitment of Aster DM Foundation.
Charity begins at home. Dr. Moopen’s family has done it literally. They have also expanded it to strengthen the society and community, by helping them adopt the sustainable model. The youth has been inspired by need for volunteerism in the health sector and others are steadily following them. The foundation's efforts to help the children develop life skills, development of skills amongst the specially-abled children, ensures a niche but effective health intervention.
Sensitising the local community about the importance of water management and solid waste management is a reflection of Dr Moopen’s commitment to keep the city clean. The Rural Health Clinic is an intervention to provide excellent medical services and awareness to women and children. Before this clinic was set up, they had to travel to the city, which was difficult for the poor and underprivileged. Dialysis cost results in despair amongst the poor. The Foundation has not only provided 10 dialysis machines, but also supports with a doctor who specialises in kidney related diseases. Energetic and committed Aster Volunteers help dialysis patients undergo the process with a smile. It is offered free of cost to the poor and a nominal fee is charged from patients who can afford to pay. Aster volunteers take forward the 'contributions' with a commitment by offering food to the infirm and aged, at Badagara in association with Thanal, an NGO.
Happy mother, child and Doctor at DM WIMS represent the successful Mother and Child initiative
Built amongst the picturesque tea estates of Wayanad, the Doctor Moopen Wayanad Institute of Medical Sciences (DM WIMS) is a medical oasis not only for the tribal population of this district but also for the tribal population in neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. DM WIMS’ first batch of MBBS students passed out on April 6, 2019. “It is a red-letter day for all of us,” said Dr Antony Sylvan D’Souza, DEAN, DM WIMS. It has done a pioneering work through its KAAVAL cancer awareness programme amongst the tribal population. It was a challenging task for the young medical students, under the aegis of Aster Volunteers. But this initiative has already begun to show benefits, with more tribal women coming forward on their own to get cancer tests done.
The Dialysis centre at Vadakara is a blessing for the poor, who also get free dialysis .
It also has a department for ‘Community connect’ that has organized more than 1000 medical camps creating health awareness. This is in addition to nutrition and sanitation awareness, basic life support training like first aid. “We want to make Wayanad the first district in the country that is 100 per cent Basic Life Support (BLS) trained,” says Devanand Kolothodi, CAO, DM WIMS. The work undertaken by DM WIMS under its project Aalamaram-Tribal extension clinic at Kadachikkunnuis a reflection of the deep concern for the population that has remained devoid of best medical services. It offers medical services free of cost. Adoption of MoopainadGrama panchayat by DM WIMS resulted in fall of disease prevalence, increased income and skilling of local manpower.
The Team DM WIMS. A critical intervention that has not only produced a huge number of Aster Volunteers but also committed health practioners
As part of the Aster Homes initiative, the group has responded to the flood by offering to provide land and fully built houses to 20 homeless and landless people, with full ownership rights at Panamaram. KudumbashreeProgramme with DM WIMS provides (KWAS) support to 8000 families in Wayanad. Under this, outpatient services get a free consultation from doctors, a discounted lab investigation, radiology and medicines. Those who are admitted, get rent-free beds and nursing care along with a good percentage of discount from a total bill in any surgical procedures.The mother and child care programmes by DM WIMS has brought smiles in the lives of many tribal women. They can now avail the maternity facilities and deliver at the hospital free of charge.
Happy child in front of a Aster Home handed over to the flood affected victms in April 2019
Aster Medcity doctors are closely involved in their patient cases and that is so critical for a healthcare serviceorganisation. Over a period, the doctors almost become a part of the patient’s family. Pediatric department at Kochi has undertaken commendable efforts in bringing cheers in the lives of children with the right care. Aster Volunteers also undertook commendable efforts to Rebuild Kerala after the floods. When the flood struck Kerala in 2018, Aster Volunteers were the first responders who helped flood victims with medical aid, food supplies and necessities and touched 50,000+ lives.This was followed by the launch of the Aster Homes initiative, amounting to Rs. 15 crores, to build 250 homes for the victims who were rendered homeless by the floods.
The soulful music by a live band (Heart2 Heart) played by Muthu, Jaymohan and Benny at the Aster Medcity
Apart from this, means of livelihood for the underprivileged who lost everything was provided like new hand carts for peanut sellers, new boats, and helping set up petty shops. Providing humanitarian aid in disaster and conflict stricken areas has been a core priority for Aster Volunteers globally, with support being provided to the needy in Jordan’s Zaatari Camp for Syrian Refugees, Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, famine stricken people in Somalia to name a few.With an aim to promote diversity and inclusion and help provide an employment opportunity to the differently abled, Heart2Heart band of musicians have been given an opportunity to perform at Aster Medcity on a regular basis. The soulful music played by Muthu, Jaymohan and Benny (all visually challenged) fills the air, soothing the physically and mentally tired patients and caretakers.
Dr . Satish M S Vasishta with his patients at Aster CMI Hospital
Launched in 2016, Aster CMI hospital has already brought smiles in the lives of the poor, with 59 liver transplants and more than 90 successful cleft operations. “We are not just running a facility here but are trying to make a difference in the lives of people and society,” says Dr Nitish Shetty, CEO, Aster Hospitals Bengaluru. The doctors here believe that saving a child is helping the future of the country. Dr Chetan Ginigeri,Head of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit believes that ‘Children live in an adult’s world, designed and developed by the adults,’ and has written a book called Playful, the ultimate guide to child safety.
He has transferred the royalty and revenue from the sale of the book to the CSR initiatives by Aster CMI Hospital. Dr Sonal Asthana highlights that Aster Volunteers have raised Rs. Seven crores in funding over three years, about two third of this has come from Milap crowdfunding using social media and other mediums and one-third came from Aster CSR fund and the Praveen Aggarwal Fund, who has supported this initiative. Through this initiative, the hospital has managed to save poor families who would normally sell their land for treatment, which in turn meant pushing them into poverty. “We were able to save almost 30 per cent of the families from this,” says Asthana. They have also created an ‘art therapy’ course for counselling, to raise awareness and also provide relief to children. Dr Satish M S Vasishta, Consultant Craniomaxillofacial surgeon is happy that he has been able to bring smiles in the lives of cleft lip patients with simple surgeries. The total clinical cost for the surgery is Rs.30,000, which is shared half by an NGO, ‘Love Without Reason’ and the rest by Aster CMI, by waiving it. Till now this unit has done more than 90 cleft lip pediatric surgeries.
Dr Azad Moopen
Founder Chairman & Managing Director – Aster DM Healthcare
Aster Volunteers is a successful initiative. What is its future role in CSR activities?
I want Aster Volunteers program to become a movement. In India, unlike other countries, the volunteerism in the health sector is very low. I have seen the power of volunteerism in the US, GCC and other countries. It is very inspiring. There is a huge requirement for it in India, to bridge the gap of human resource requirement and number of patients. Government alone cannot do this. My personal experience and conviction are; that ordinary people, doctors non-para medical and others have time and wish to contribute it in a meaningful way, but do not have a platform. Our 80 per cent activity in CSR is on health and rest 20 per cent is for other activities like natural calamities, like the recent flood in Kerala.
As we go forward, in the next 10 years Aster Volunteers will become a major force multiplier for the health volunteerism in India and abroad.
When and why did you decide to keep aside 20 per cent of your wealth to care for the poor?
It is a very emotional question
for me. But I will answer it. The
thought to share my wealth was
an outcome of an incident, when
I was a lecturer in a medical
college. One day, when I was on
duty at the emergency, a man
came with a four-year-old child
on his shoulder and when I
examined the child, I found the
child had died some time ago.
I asked the father, why did he
delay in bringing the child and
told him the status. The answer
he gave shook me inside. It was
that moment that I told myself, I
need to do something, for people
like him . He said that he was aware that the child had died in
his arm when he was travelling in
a bus on way to the hospital. But
he did not want to shock his wife
and also because, he did not have
the money to get down and take a
taxi back.
Whatever wealth God has given
me, is through health care. It is but
natural that I should give a part of
it back to the society especially for
the poor. I have the full support of
my wife and three children in this
initiative. I have been inspired
by great philanthropists like, Bill
Gates and Warren Buffet and
would like to inspire people with
my efforts.
How do you decide the level of support one should give through CSR initiatives to the needy?
We look at many aspects of the patients who need financial support from the CSR foundation or volunteer support, like taking care of old and children when a mother or father has to spend time in the hospital for treatment. Then we decide. I personally believe, to spread the CSR funds to many, rather than to spend it on one or a few people. This is a philosophy followed by Bill Gates and others and it has been successful. We have also been able to follow the same philosophy, which is to spend more raising awareness about various diseases.
What is the message Dr Azad gets from satisfactory CSR work done by thousands of Aster Volunteers across the world?
I get a lot of calls and messages through social media, thanking us. Our Aster Volunteers across the world have a Whatsapp group and when I see many stories of people volunteering to help others, it gives me a lot of satisfaction. For me personally, it is satisfying to see the happiness in volunteerism for the 108 people with special needs that we have recruited.
The health clinics in rural areas have been a big relief, especially for women,children and senior citizens
Aster Volunteers from Aster Aadhar Hospital in Kolhapur have undertaken numerous medical and health check-up camps in neighboring villages, town, and cities. Their interventions in bringing Awareness on Road safety in association with Kolhapur Traffic Police, i-EXCEL and i-Integrate has seen significant impact. Programs like Organ Donation Awareness has had desired changes in the communities in the region.
Aster Volunteers Mobile Medical Service in India and many other countries is an attempt to reach where health servicies are not adequately available.
Aster Volunteers also initiated huge participation activities on Women’s Day, Children’s Day, World Disability Day that has benefitted about 14,600 lives, by raising awareness about taking care of their health. During the Kerala floods, Aster Volunteers from Kolhapur were also among the first responders to reach the remote areas of the State and help people in need.
Aster Volunteers at a health awareness camp in Maharashtra. The smile of the child and the volunteers indicate the beginning of communication on health awareness
Delhi is a city that attracts many, both rich and poor. It is inevitable that pressure will be on basic infrastructure like health services. Aster Volunteers Mobile Medical Service in Delhi, in partnership with Al Shifa Multispecialty Hospital, has been doing pioneering work in providing medical services to the poor and migrants in the city through a medical mobile van. The mobile medical service has been operational in India for the last five years. It has been providing medical care across remote areas in Jharkand and has recently been introduced in Kozhikode to cater to the health needs of 40 remote villages.
Mridul M Mahesh joined MILEs program when he was in seventh class. Today, he is a budding quiz master in Kerala. He is grateful to the instructors at MILES who helped him to become an extrovert and instilled in him the confidence of public speaking. "MILES changed my outlook to everything from the way we speak and observe to think out of the box," says Mahesh.
Kanji was devastated when her house got washed away in the floods in Kerala. "God has come down in form of these people (Aster Volunteers) who have helped us with not just four walls and a roof, but also with new amenities," says Kanji.
