Mangaluru: Dr Veerendra Heggade Inaugurates 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging Machine

Mangaluru: The Department of Radio diagnosis & Imaging, KMC Hospital Attavar organised the inaugural programme of the newly installed 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine & Multi-slice CT machine in the hospital premises here, on August 27.

Dean of KMC Mangaluru, Dr Venkatraya Prabhu welcomed the guests and the gathering. Recalling the first CT installed in the hospital on 31st May, 2001, he said that history had repeated itself since Veerendra Heggade had inaugurated the lab then and is doing so today too. He claimed that Dr Hegde had Midas’ touch in that, all the things that he has blessed have flourished.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadikari Shree Kshethra of Dharmasthala by lighting the traditional lamp along with other dignitaries on the dais.

Speaking on the occasion, Pro-Chancellor of Manipal University (MU) Dr H S Ballal said that radiology is one of the fast growing fields. It is helpful in the detection and treatment of a variety of diseases. This field can help in curing some cancer conditions if detected earlier. He also said, “I am happy that Dr Veerendra Heggade could be with us for the second time. KMC has always had a close link with him to the extent that he is a part of us.” Ballal assured the Dharmadikari of support from KMC to top up the ‘Sampoorna Suraksha’ scheme. “If you educate a man, you educate one person, but if you educate a woman, you educate an entire family,” he added.

Pro-vice chancellor of MU, Dr Surendra Shetty introduced the chief guest Dr Veerendra Heggade and apprised the gathering of the many projects and work undertaken by the Dharmadikari to serve and uplift the poor in the society.

Thereafter, Dr Veerendra Heggade was felicitated by the KMC hospital administration for being conferred the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award in recognition of his immense contribution to society, especially in rural development and empowerment to women and youth through employment generation.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Heggade said that life is very precious. When we grow old, our body and mind becomes old. But when a person becomes old and enjoys his life to the fullest and treats it as something precious, he can live for long and his days will not get old. “Old memories are very sweet. When we think of the present trend, we can say that our time was good. The present generation says that their time is good, but I don’t agree. In this changing world, we have to keep our heart, eyes, mind and body clean. We have to be dedicated in our duties.”

He also said that the management of Manipal hospital is very committed and very particular in their dealings. “Pai family members are great motivators. They introduced international doctors to Manipal and attracted them to serve in Manipal hospital. I have learnt many things from the Manipal group and implemented the same in Dharmasthala. If any place is popular in India’s map for its medical care, it is Manipal and Mangaluru.” He further said that nowadays, there is modern technology to treat patients. “Earlier we did not have many facilities to treat patients and now due to poverty, fast food and drugs, we are losing our health. If we compare this to 60 years back, the poverty was more then but now there are many opportunities and more expenditure than income. We feel sorry if any farmer commits suicide, but at the same time more than 1000 people die in road accidents but we don’t care about it. Accidents, disease and death comes without notice. We need to make clean India but it is the need of the hour to reduce accidents and make India an accident free country.”

He said, “Today, accidents have increased and some people believe that black magic is the cause. Even if you explain it to them, they refuse to believe otherwise. We need good roads to avoid accidents and modern technology to diagnose the diseases.”

“Every month, we donate Rs 7 lakh as medical assistance to the people and all are treated in Manipal. Let all the poor people also get the medical benefits, because sometimes people cannot afford the medical expenses and they have to sell their property to get treatment,” he added.

Dr Anand Venugopal, Medical Superintendent of KMC Hospital delivered the vote of thanks.