villagers. A world away from his luxurious stateof
the-art offices at Pindara Private Hospital and
the immense resources of the Royal Brisbane
Hospital, Dr Gahankari has to rely on his training
and wits to just get through the day.
“You have to be prepared to work long hours,
usually 12 - 16 hour days,” he says. “The
environment forces you to be very creative and
resourceful with what is available and not allow
what you lack to impact your positive attitude.
“We are seeing children of 11 or 12 severely
disfigured with facial clefts – and the social
stigma that comes with that – these children
would never have received any treatment without
a project like this one.
“But the work you do is valuable, greatly
appreciated and it carries its own rewards.
You don’t have to speak the same language to
communicate. Patients express themselves with
a simple touch or gesture that conveys sincere
gratitude.”
Dr Gahankari, who also volunteers his services
on similar ongoing projects in East Timor and
Nepal, says that his penchant for philanthropy
was fostered by parents who not only instilled in
him the importance of helping others, but also
taught him how unimportant material trappings
are.
“I had no telephone, air-conditioning, fridge
or car until I became a doctor,” he says. “This
upbringing taught me how little you need to be
happy and it instilled in me the value of life and
resources. I learned to respect the underprivileged
and uneducated. I am constantly reminded of my
father’s words, ‘Never let anybody decide what
you are worth, only you can direct your own
life’.”
Projects of this magnitude are really not
possible without charitable donations of time and
money and Dr Gahankari is grateful both for the
support of Australian health workers, hospitals
and medical companies as well as the Indian
community organisations, who ensure the tribal
patients and their families, can travel to the makeshift
clinics.
The going is hard, he says, but programs such as
this can help rebalance in a small way the global
problem of poorer countries losing highly-skilled
professionals to richer Western entities.
“This aid project allows me to do what I like
to do, which is reconstructive surgery to the
highest level, while also contributing to the care
of patients in my home region who do not have
adequate access to modern medicine.
“It is a great pleasure to be able to help them,
because when you repair a facial cleft you are
changing a child’s life. Just one patient like that,
knowing you have made a difference just makes
your whole trip worthwhile.”
I am constantly reminded of my father’s words,
‘Never let anybody decide what you are worth,
only you can direct your own life’.”
pindaramagazine.com.au Pindara Magazine 31