MULTIVITAMINS AND LOVE: TALES FROM THE MEDICAL CAMP AT PRASANTHI NILAYAM

In July 1998, during Guru-pournima, I traveled to Sai Baba's ashram in India with a group of nine young adult women and three chaperons from the North Central Region. While there, we volunteered at a medical camp, where I worked mostly in the makeshift pharmacy, which had the latest drugs as well as simple necessities such as multi-vitamin pills—all donated. The days I spent at this free clinic would alter my life forever.

The camp was located on the upper floor of the small general hospital attached to the ashram. Patients began lining up at 5 a.m. for the camp, which opened at 6 a.m. We were joining 108 other volunteers, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, as well as a few people with no medical background, like myself.