They have clinics in Delhi, Bombay and Raipur India, they also have clinics in Fiji, Sri Lanka and Nigeria – and now they have one in Clarksdale.
PeopleShores unveiled their PeopleShores Clarksdale Clinic last week and plans call for it to open its doors to pregnant women and infants who qualify for free healthcare in just a few short months.
Speaking to a crowd that filled the floor at Pinnacle Point last week People Shore’s spiritual leader said they live by the words, “Love others. Serve others.”
“We have experience doing this kind of work,” said Mr. Madhusudan. “Ordinary people work for money. Mediocre people work for money and use it to build a good name. The best people work for a good name.
“We let this idea guide the steps of this company,” he added.
Poverty and a lack of access to basic medical facilities have plagued many in the Mississippi Delta for years.
As part of its corporate responsibility and commitment to the people of Coahoma County, PeopleShores announced the opening of a free medical clinic for those women and children who would otherwise not have access to adequate healthcare.
The clinic is scheduled to open later this summer in a section of the PeopleShores Clarksdale Clinic building, leased from the Economic Development Authority of Coahoma County.
Renowned pediatric heart surgeon, Dr. Shaun Setty, who has been associated with the establishment of similar medical centers in India, Fiji and Africa believes the clinic in Clarksdale follows a wonderful proven model of worldwide free healthcare initiatives by the parent group Sri Sathaya Sai Sanjeevani Hospitals, which has also played a significant role in the planning of the Clarksdale Medical Center.
“Women and children in need, without medical insurance, without medical insurance, will be able to get basic medical care,” said Setty. “Future plans include providing the service of a dietician and counselor to help alleviate other social determinants of health which are so important to daily living.”
Issac Tigrett, a businessman with local ties and who is best recognized as being the co-founder of restaurant chains of Hard Rock Café and House of Blues, said he has seen what has begun in Clarksdale, begin in other places and be very successful. He helped fund one of the first Sathya Sai Sanjeevani hospitals more than two decades ago.
“I know to some of you this is just a broken down town,” he explained, saying people from around the world know about Clarksdale and the blues. “But the only people who don’t know how famous Clarksdale is are Clarksdale people. What we are doing here will improve on that name.”
Tigrett said the clinics rely heavily on fundraising.
“I firmly believe there are people with the means who want to help others in this world, but they don’t know how,” said Tigrett. “We are going to show them. I assure you that in a short period of time you will look back on this, see what began here and say ‘wow.’”
Clinic founders also pointed to the work of Nobel Prize winning economist James Heckman that shows for every dollar invested in a child’s healthcare in the first five years of life there is a $9 return on investment.
Speaking at Wednesday night’s gathering, Coahoma County Board of Supervisors President Paul Pearson said he has been so impressed with PeopleShores leadership and vision.
“At the ribbon cutting this morning, I can’t tell you how exciting that was,” said Pearson. “PeopleShores sees what we can’t see here. They could have picked anywhere in the world to locate their business and clinic, and they picked us.”
PeopleShores CEO Murali Vullaganti said the announcement that PeopleShores was coming to Clarksdale was made just a year ago at Pinnacle Point.
“I am so happy for the support of citizens in this community, the county and business leaders,” said Vullaganti. “We have accomplished a lot since then. We are so excited to be in Clarksdale.”
During Wednesday’s ribbon cutting and evening banquet, it was hinted that in two years, the clinic could grow into a multi-specialty free health-care hospital.
Vullaganti also said PeopleShores – with the right growth and direction -- could scale up its workforce to 2,000 jobs for the economically disadvantaged Mississippi Delta.
