When Jesuit Priest Bernhard Ehlen visited Somalia in the early 80s for the first time, he was saddened to see many people weakened by permanent malnutrition who could not sustain a basic immune system to prevent infectious diseases. Thus, he established the Doctors for Developing Countries committee that enables doctors to use their annual holiday to provide free medical services in needy and poor areas.

Over the last 25 years, the committee has carried out over 3,800 missions with the help of approximately 2,100 dedicated doctors, who serve under physically and hygienically challenging conditions. Not only do they work without any remuneration, they also cover at least half of their own travel expenses. With the doctors’ enthusiasm convincing other colleagues to join, new areas of extended services have been established in Bangladesh, Rwanda and Kenya, as well as South America after the Philippines and Kolkata, India.

In recognition of their outstanding efforts and noble ideas, Supreme Master Ching Hai sent Father Ehlen and Doctors for Developing Countries a thank-you letter and a contribution of €10,000, which were presented on May 18, Golden Year 6 (2009), by members of our Association. Father Ehlen was deeply touched when he received the letter and contribution from Master and told of his organization joining efforts with the German government to develop policies and implement programs to alleviate suffering. The organization also helps local people to improve their lives in other ways such as drilling wells for fresh water and providing job opportunities like teaching sari embroidery and growing edible mushrooms to help people help themselves.

Thank you, Father Ehlen and the doctors with the organization, for your noble work in aiding the less fortunate around the globe. May heaven bless these selfless endeavors with evermore success.

Reference: http://www.german-doctors.de/

Receipt from Father Bernhard Ehlen for the €10,000 contributed by Master

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