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HAITI EARTHQUAKE
RELIEF WORK: HUMANITY CAN TRANSCEND LANGUAGE, COLOUR, CLASS AND CREED
By Dr. Pargat Singh Bhurji
On January 12, a 7.0 Richter scale earthquake caused
massive damage to human life and infrastructure in Haiti. Those deaths could
not have been prevented, but what we saw was an opportunity to prevent
further deaths especially of little babies and children.
Whenever a major disaster happens, adults pull through
because of their stronger body build and reserves. Children are the most
affected. If we intervene early we can prevent death and morbidity.
With Guru Ji's ‘kirpa’[kindness] I was chosen
from the province of British Columbia to take the first medical team to
Haiti, to set up the clinics and inpatients for newborn and children.
We started our journey from Vancouver to Dallas to Miami
to Santo Domingo, on American Airlines. It took us 12 hours. Then we boarded
a bus to Port-au-Prince which took us an additional ten hours.
As we entered the capital city we saw tremendous
destruction of houses, roads, etc., and tents all around us.
The accommodation was very basic. A restaurant owner had
closed his business and was helping doctors and nurses by letting us stay
there. We paid him money for the basic food he provided.
I was successful in setting up paediatric
and newborn care in tents in Diquini, St. Marc and Jackmel. These places are one-to-two hours’ drive from
Port-au-Prince, their capital city, but are still considered to be part of
Port-au-Prince.
We would see 200-plus sick children daily and admit more
than ten every day. We did this daily non-stop for about three weeks. In
addition, about 150 new babies were delivered during this period.
On my birthday in early February I saw a sick 34-week-old
baby who had recovered. His family wanted to name him Pargat,
after me. This was the best ever birthday gift bestowed upon me by the
Almighty!
We are sending teams every two to three weeks now and I am
coordinating these teams. We will be on site there for one to two more years.
I am proud that the Sikhs of the Lower Mainland in
Vancouver raised $1.5 million to help Haiti.
When I first went to see the patients in Diquini they were astonished and puzzled. They had never
seen a Sikh before. When I told them that I am from Vancouver, Canada they
were even more puzzled.
They asked me a lot of questions about my hair, beard,
turban, kara, etc., which I was able to answer
logically and scientifically, a knowledge which I had received from the Sangat, from my discussions with Singh Sahib Bhai Harbhajan Singh Yogi Ji, Khalsa Men's Camp, a few
years ago, and from other mahapurakhs and my Shabad Guru.
The love, affection and bonding they provided to me cannot
be described in words.
Humanity can transcend language, colour,
class and creed. I have seen it and experienced it myself.
"Of all religions, the best religion is to chant the
Name of the Lord and maintain pure conduct."
I have come back home now, but a major part of my heart is
still there in Haiti.
I pray to Waheguru for their
speedy recovery and to bring Haiti back on track soon, though the process
could take many years.
Even though they have nothing left, they are
strong-spirited people who are content and will pull themselves back up.
Our days there started around 5 a.m. and finished around
10 p.m. At night, mosquitoes troubled us and dogs barked, but by the
following morning, after my ‘sadhana,’ I was
recharged again.
On some dull days I sang, "For Your sake, O Lord
Master, they are imbued with love. Your Names are so many, and Your Forms are
endless. No one can tell how many Glorious Virtues You
have."
And this would give me super energy!
I would like to encourage today's youth to keep performing
‘seva’ or volunteer service as part of their daily
routine.
When you help someone you get helped too. It is a dynamic
bi-directional positive spiritual energy process.
Stop complaining about petty stuff and be content with
what you have.
(Dr. Pargat Singh Bhurji is a specialist in paediatrics
and neonatology from the University of British Columbia, At the Children's Hospital, he’s the only turbaned Sikh specialist. Five
years ago, he took the fourth medical team to Kalmuni,
Sri Lanka, in the wake of the devastating tsunami.)
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