Doctor seen as an angel of mercy among Indian expatriates

DUBAI // During the past 14 months, Dr Devenapally Shashikala's humanitarian work has become an institution in Dubai. Her reputation has spread within the Indian community and for many she is the first person they turn to in a time of crisis. Despite her constantly ringing phone and her gruelling schedule, the mother of two nearly always has a smile on her face. "Working with people in a low social economical position is something I have always wanted to do," she said. "When I was training to be a doctor back in India, I read articles about people suffering all over the world and I wanted to help them."

Dr Shashikala has lived in the Middle East for 15 years, working at the Ministry of Health in Oman before coming to Dubai in 2002. She helps most of the men she feeds with a lot more than a simple bowl of rice. One of those men, Martha Mallesham, 40, would probably not be alive today if it was not for the doctor. Last month, she received a phone call from his concerned roommate saying that Mr Mallesham could not walk.

Dr Shashikala drove to their apartment building and brought him back to her clinic. "I realised very quickly that he was seriously ill. I suspected an infection of the spinal cord, so I gave him some medication and took him to hospital as soon as I could," she said. Mr Mallesham was diagnosed with tuberculosis of the spine and transferred to Dubai Hospital for surgery. "I contacted his family in India to tell them the news," Dr Shashikala said. "They didn't even know he was ill and they were desperately worried.

"They gave consent for the operation and asked me to keep them informed." During surgery, doctors discovered cancerous cells in Mr Mallesham's spinal cord. He needed immediate treatment, but because he was an illegal immigrant he could not receive chemotherapy in the UAE. "The cancer was very advanced and we had to get him back to India as quickly as possible," Dr Shashikala said. "With the help of a social worker from the hospital, we made a request to the Indian consulate and, thankfully, they obliged with a flight home.

"His family rang me as soon as he arrived and they tell me he is now undergoing radiotherapy. It is wonderful to know he is in safe hands." Without the doctor answering the plea of his roommate, it is uncertain whether Mr Mallesham would have made it back to his family. Dr Shashikala takes such life-saving gestures in her stride, never turning away a request for help and never seeing any obstacle as insurmountable.

"I do everything in my power to help and I always try to stay positive," she said. "Of course, I have my own anger and my own sadness, especially when I see people in really tough situations, but it is part of my inherent nature to want to help. It makes me happy to know that I have made a difference to other people's lives." @Email:[e-mail]