Sri Madhusudan Sai, global humanitarian and founder of the, was awarded the Honorary Companion of the Order of Fiji for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Fiji and humanity at large.
President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu officiated at a special investiture ceremony held at the State House, where he awarded Madhusudan Sai who is the founder of the 'One World, One Family Global Humanitarian Mission', through which he established the state-of-the-art, fully free children’s hospital.
Chairman of the Sai Prema Foundation and the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital, Sumeet Tappoo, was also honoured at the ceremony, together with Dr Krupali Rathod Tappoo, Director of the Hospital.
President Lalabalavu acknowledged the extraordinary humanitarian work carried out through the hospital and the Sai Prema Foundation.
Over 360 life-saving surgeries and more than 28,000 paediatric echo-cardiograms have been performed by the hospital.
The President says the fact these critical heart surgeries and screenings are provided at no cost is a reflection of an extraordinary degree of compassion and service to humanity.
He says children from orphanages, residents of aged-care homes, and individuals from rural and maritime communities have benefitted from the nationwide medical camps conducted by the Sai Prema Foundation.
He says the Government recognises this as one of its most successful public-private partnerships which stands as proof of the shared belief that quality healthcare is not a privilege, but a fundamental right for all citizens.
