Lessons from the movie "Gravity" for Healthcare Missions
A practical learning
The other day I wesas watching the Hollywood block buster,Gravity and it gave me a lot of understanding on my own experiences working with Mission Hospitals in India. I often ask this one question while working for Missions, "are they going to make it?"
What is that makes the mission to space or working in mission hospitals really daunting? Both have one thing in common - survive with absolute bare minimum. Often your plan A becomes a mockery and what only makes the difference is your test of grit and the will to make it happen with a spirited team ( who may or may not make it in the end). These propositions make missions extremely un-attractive to many doctors and healthcare professionals. From my little working with various teams, I have seen a very small fraction of resources having the dare to make the difference in today's world of opportunities. What is appealing for me personally is simply the love of making it happen and that keeps some of us going on and on through all the challenges we face. It is often that feeling of re-writing earlier formulas and creating new solutions. For that one moment when George Clooney ( astronaut in the movie) comments " my new record of walking in space will remain un-broken for a long time, even if it meant risking his life". Now it might be called "in-sanity" for many but then for those with the love of making it happen it is sheer ecstasy and even a higher calling. Well that's the point I am trying to make to all those watching and marvelling at achievements. Be it a profession that explores new un-known frontiers in space or un-ravelling
NOVEMBER 2013 !1
the original values of an old institution and making it tick. It all needs that bit of in-sanity and the genius from within. We have had heard a lot on how missionaries came forward challenging every logic of why they need to do it in the first place. India's independence in 1947 gave the churches free gifts ( hundreds of invaluable gems - well established and truly serving mission hospitals) not sure how our country's health index would have been without them? I am not advocating old missions to be honoured, all i am trying to highlight is the zeal and spirit of how we make things happen when all odds are against us. This is the missing link that we need to re-configure into the DNA of Indian healthcare missions. This is not going to happen by signing a bond with young medical professionals to serve as part of their sponsorship obligation. These hospitals will make it only if young professionals come forward from their comfort zone and fight this almost loosing battle. For me this battle is no way over and we will inspire many more to join the race of a "Renewed Missions in India. A way that still will treat the sick with dignity and caring love. Do we need this for our people? I
guess we all the know the answer....and we will " never let go" This is a tribute to those few missionaries (some of them even not recorded in any history), who made all this happen out of a
challenge
About the Author:
Manesh Mathew is a healthcare management consultant, with over 20 years of experience in India and abroad. He is the founder of Medallion Hospital Consulting and provides strategic advisory services to several hospitals in the country. Presently he is involved in the revival strategy for a 85 year old mission hospital in Assam.
