3rd Bal Shalyakriya Mission Week inaugurated at KMC Attavar
Mangaluru: The 3rd Bal Shalyakriya Mission Week was inaugurated at the Sanjeevini Hall, KMC Hospital Attavar here on February 4.
The programme began with an invocation. Dr Anand Venugopal welcomed the gathering.
The programme was inaugurated by the pro-chancellor Dr H S Ballal along with DHO Dr Ramakrishna by lighting the traditional lamp.
Dr Ashwin briefed on Bal Shalyakriya and its benefits to children from poor families suffering from various diseases and whose parents cannot afford to treat their children. He also said that this is the 3rd Bal Shalyakriya Mission week, and nearly 45 children will benefit from this programme. A team of doctors have come from Boston, USA to do the surgery which is very expensive but will be free of cost for the beneficiaries.
Addressing the gathering MLA of Mangaluru South Constituency Vedavyas Kamath said, “This is a great initiative by the KMC Hospital, I was not aware of such a programme. KMC Hospital in collaboration with Peedh Parai International, Houston (USA) and Bantwal Ananth Mallya charitable trust are doing a great job for the benefit of the poor families. In my family, most of our children are treated by the Associate Dean of KMC Hospital Dr Nutan Kamath.”
He further said, “The government should have done this work but KMC is doing it, Complicated surgeries will be done during this week. Every parent wants good treatment for their children, I am sure quality treatment is given for the patients at KMC. I would also like to say that KMC is a very good hospital giving good treatment for every patient. The Health Department should have immediately given the permission for Bal Shalyakriya for children, but the government has delayed in issuing the permission. In the 930 bedded district hospital, there are no proper facilities for an Intensive care unit, many people from various districts call me to increase the ICU facilities in Wenlock Hospital. The KMC Hospital is supporting the government by providing ICU facilities during emergencies. I congratulate the Peedh Parai International, Houston (USA) and Bantwal Ananth Mallya charitable trust for joining hands to hold the Bal Shalyakriya Mission for the benefit of the poor children. I render my wholehearted support for KMC to continue such services. KMC Hospital is honestly working for the betterment of the poor and I salute them for their good work.”
Pro-Chancellor – Manipal Academy of Higher Education Dr H S Ballal speaking on the occasion said, “It is our social responsibility to provide medical support for the less fortunate. This is a philanthropic programme, which requires wide publicity so that people can come to know about this programme. Our country has a large population and a large number of poor people who are below the poverty line cannot afford the health care facilities. While we are born, we cannot choose to be born in a rich or poor family, so we should not ignore the poor. It is our social responsibility to help poor people. In association with the Bantwal Ananth Mallya charitable trust, we are organizing this programme for the third time. We need to have a long-term memorandum of understanding with the Manipal group and we have to do it at the earliest. We will give all the logistic support and the support of the faculty who specialises in some areas so that it will greatly benefit the poor section of the society. We will have a long-term understanding with Peedh Parai International, Houston (USA) and Bantwal Ananth Mallya charitable trust. People from the undivided districts as well as the neighbouring districts will be benefitted. The policy of the Manipal group is that, no person whether poor or anyone will be denied either education or health care because they don’t have money. This should be an ongoing process so that the poor people will benefit. “
District Minister In-charge U T Khader speaking on the occasion said, “It is good to see the team of doctors from Boston joining hands with KMC Hospital to provide free medical care for the less fortunate children. KMC is the best hospital providing quality treatment. Many people come here for treatment and when they are being discharged from the hospital, call me for concession. When I call the KMC hospital, they are aware that I call for concession, before I even ask them, they ask me which ward and the name of the patient. I am very happy that KMC Hospital has taken the initiative in organizing the Bal Shalyakriya for the children. Most of the parents want their children to be healthy but due to poverty, they cannot afford the treatment. Bal Shalyakriya will surely help the poor families to get free treatment including surgery for their children. I know that the KMC hospital has struggled a lot to get permission. The government should change its policy and make arrangements to provide permission to such programmes directly from the district health officer. Many parents have come here along with their children for treatment, I assure the parents that their children will be healthy after the surgery because KMC is a very good hospital and the best doctors have come here from Boston to treat them. I wish all the children undergoing surgery and their parents the very best.”
DHO Dr Ramakrishna also spoke on the occasion. A team of the American Doctors Jella An, Major Burch (Ben), Kelly Scott, Shawn Chapman, Salome Widmar, Dominique Cartee, Arushi Nair, Sumit Gupta, Trustee of Bantwal Ananth Mallya Charitable Trust Jeetendra Nayak, Dean Dr Venkatraya Prabhu and others were also present. Regional COO, KMC Hospitals Saghir Siddiqui delivered the vote of thanks.