Visit of our friend Dr. Felicitas Roelofsen
Dr. Felicitas Roelofsen, has been a friend and member of Aashray Abhiyan since 2007. Her visit to India and Patna every year has been remarkable. A retired cancer surgeon, she has travelled to the remotest villages in Bihar, North East, Jharkhand trying to promote ‘artmesia’, an herbal plant to counteract malaria, HIV Aids, cold and cough. This year is 50 years of her coming to India. Her hard work and passion for reaching out with ensuring people enjoy better health has been a source of inspiration to us. She spends her time, money, knowledge at the service of India for three months. Her visit after three years due to Carona was something we looked forward to.
She moved to all our localities where we are engaged the settlements, the vendors, sewing centers construction sites. She always finds it a joy to be with the people and get to know of their struggles, their successes. Her deep appreciation for the work done by the organization is always an encouragement for the way forward. The way she mingles among all kinds of people without any discrimination has made the team members truly find a friend in her.
Fifty years is a long time when someone from a foreign land comes to reach out to the most backward areas on her own steam. She has truly been a well wisher and a guide in all moments of our growth as an organization. We are blessed by her presence, its our good fortune that she journeys with us encouraging us and taking deep interest in the work that we do. May she enjoy good health and long life.
Dorothy Fernandes