After 12 years of treating patients and organising medical camps and charity events in St Mary, Indian-born general practitioner Dr Nagendra Babu Chandolu says receiving the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service is not a just a culmination of his work, but an encouragement to do more.

Chandolu, who operates three medical practices in St Mary, said he is planning to expand the services available at his facility in Annotto Bay, where 14 specialists work across several fields, including dentistry, cardiology, nephrology, urology, and radiology.

He said the plans include opening an operating theatre to bring more medical services closer to residents who might otherwise have to travel for care.

“That’s why we decided to choose St Mary because everybody calls St Mary the poorest parish, but I feel that God sent me to this place,” he told the Jamaica Observer on Monday during the Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and Awards.

The doctor said his work has focused on improving access to healthcare while supporting education and other community needs. He credited his wife, Dr Alekya Daram Chandolu — an anaesthesiologist who works as a consultant at Port Maria Hospital — with sharing his commitment to service.

“Actually, in the medical field, I am a doctor because I come from a poor background. My father is a farmer, I know the value of education and health. That’s why I decided that in order to make a better society, we should help the people who are in need. That’s what our motto is, [and] luckily, my wife has the same passion that we wanted to serve the community,” he said.

Through Ashish Health Care and Ashish Community Health Organisation, the couple have organised medical camps, school health checks, donations of books and clothing, and assistance for older people and other vulnerable residents. Their work has also included improvements to school facilities and the distribution of care packages during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chandolu said the work depended heavily on the support of volunteers and other people who shared their commitment to helping those in need.

“We have done so many things. We concentrated on education and health. We have done so much infrastructure development for the schools and also some medical camps. Several things were done. That’s it. Our lifestyle is always giving back to society. That always brings happiness. Gaining the blessings by giving something back to society is always a blessing,” he said.

Chandolu also credited the people of St Mary with helping him feel at home since arriving in Jamaica. He said the warmth and respect shown to him by residents had strengthened his connection to the parish.

“I must say thanks to Jamaica. I love you, Jamaica. I love you, St Mary. All my people who come and support me…and my volunteers who have done tremendous support when I’m doing the medical camps and when I’m doing the charity events. Even during the COVID time, we have given so many care packages. At that time, I couldn’t have done it alone without the support of my volunteers and everybody. So I must say thanks to each and everybody,” he expressed.

He said residents’ greetings and willingness to treat him as part of their community had made a lasting impression.

“When we are on the road, they always respect us like a doctor, they will call to us and say, ‘Indian, how are you?’. They are always greeting us, that is their culture, and I like that, that makes me comfortable here and they treat me as one of their family members… I live in Annotto Bay where there is little crime, but I’ve never felt crime anywhere, the people always respect me when I’m staying at my house, [and] even if I don’t lock up some gates, they never trouble me,” Chandolu said.

Chandolu also used the occasion to pay tribute to his parents, particularly his father, whose values he said helped shape his commitment to serving others.

He wore traditional Indian clothing to the National Honours and Awards ceremony, explaining that the attire represented the clothes traditionally worn by farmers in his homeland.

“This award is dedicated to all the farmers in India and my parents who gave me the values, who taught me the values. It’s not just giving education and going and earning money. They taught me the importance of giving back to society,” he said.

Chandolu said the recognition was especially meaningful to his family, describing his parents as “rich in heart” and expressing pride that both he and his brother, Dr Nagamalleswara Rao Chandolu, had been recognised for their contributions.

His brother received the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer in 2025.

Chandolu’s commitment to St Mary developed after he arrived in Jamaica from India in 2012. He initially volunteered with Missionaries of the Poor in downtown Kingston before moving into medical practice in St Mary.

He began working at Annotto Bay Hospital in 2014 and later served as a medical officer with the St Mary Health Department, based mainly at Annotto Bay Health Centre. His wife followed him to Jamaica in 2014.