New Healthcare Program Offers Help and Hope to the Sambhali Family
By Ellie Hamburger
To fulfill its mission to empower marginalized women, children, and members of the LGBTQ+ community to find their voices and take control of their lives, Sambhali takes a holistic approach. It provides education, vocational training, protection from gender-based violence, and legal and psychological support. Until now, one critical gap remained: addressing the health and wellness needs of the people they serve.
As of January 2025, thanks to a generous grant to Sambhali U.S. from an anonymous donor, that gap is now being filled with the establishment of Sambhali Sathi. Led by a dedicated nurse, the program will offer essential services including health education, advice and basic direct care, triage, coordination with other healthcare providers, and assistance in navigating the health system.
Sathi means “companion”, reflecting the role of the nurse as a trusted part of the Sambhali family, enabling people to discuss what may be intensely personal matters, to clarify their needs and have someone by their side as they navigate the healthcare system.
As of February 2, Saraswati Mair, a recently retired government nurse with decades of experience in government hospitals and valuable connections to the local healthcare community, joined the team to lead Sambhali Sathi. She is joined by Kuldeep Singh Khichi, a long-time member of the Sambhali staff with experience and knowledge in local health systems, who will serve as a healthcare navigator. Complementing the Saathi services, Hemant Bhati will continue the ongoing effort to enroll Sambhali participants in government benefits and insurance programs for which they are eligible.
Saraswati’s arrival coincided with a visit from Sambhali U.S. board members Shereen Arent, Ginka Poole, and me in early 2025. At a meeting of all the teachers from the empowerment centers and boarding homes, our team was able to see firsthand the eagerness with which Saraswati’s arrival was met. Teachers expressed relief that they would now be able to address the need for education, care, and help navigating the healthcare system. They discussed stories of lack of information about contraception and prenatal care, discrimination women face when engaging with healthcare providers, and the dire need for help in understanding and seeking care for all-too-common conditions such as uterine prolapse.
Once offered, would women avail themselves of Saraswati’s services? At just a first visit to one of the empowerment centers, our team saw three women request appointments with her. Clearly, the groundwork is laid, and the trust is there.
As Govind Rathore, Sambhali founder, aptly expressed it, “With this addition, the circle [of holistic services] is now complete.”