Philanthropist Anuradha Pai Inaugurates Newborn hearing assessment centre
Mangaluru: The Newborn hearing assessment centre was Inaugurated at the Government Lady Goschen hospital here on January 7.
The philanthropic contributor Anuradha Shanthi Gopal Pai inaugurated the Newborn hearing assessment centre by cutting the ribbon and unveiling the plaque.
Later a stage programme was held at the TMA Pai Convention centre. Dr Nutan Kamath welcomed the gathering. General Surgeon Dr Alfred Augustine briefed on the Newborn Assessment Centre on the occasion. The philanthropic contributor Anuradha Shanthi Gopal Pai inaugurated the programme by watering the plant along with other dignitaries on the dais.
Addressing the gathering Dr Anuradha said, “I was born and raised in Mangalore and I am always a Mangalorean. I am the daughter of a Chicago Pai family who are into Cinema Making. I was raised by 6 loving brothers and today I am who I am. I reached the USA in 1963 and it was so hard to find out the best medical community. In Mangaluru we have a good medical system. You have everything here in Mangaluru. Success lies with the passion which is very much needed. The young doctors need passion so don’t lose your passion. Anything tough that comes around you is just noise, this is a wonderful country and you have a long way to go. One among you someday will screen the babies and she/he will be successful in your mission”.
Addressing the gathering Vice-chancellor of MAHE Dr Vinod Bhat said, “Within one week of 2020, we have 2 big news for Manipal Hospitals. Manipal has been awarded 2 prestigious awards for carrying out the work towards newborn children. Today we have formally inaugurated the newborn hearing assessment centre in the Lady Goschen hospital. The chemistry between the donor and the beneficiary is not very simple. We have come across a few interesting proposals from the donors who give extra money, some donors do not want anything in return. Anuradha has come forward in a different way by supporting to start the Newborn hearing assessment centre which is commendable. Anuradha Pai’s primary venture will increase awareness and facilitate neonatal screening for deafness across the district. The endowment will also help to meet the expenditure incurred towards the rehabilitation of those with deafness (with hearing aids or cochlear implantation) in the financially weaker sections of the society. From the university, for the year 2020, I promise 5 cochlear implants to the centre. I promise scholarship for the UG and PGs for their research.”
Recalling a story of Osceola McCarty, Dr Vinod Bhat said, “McCarty Osceola an illiterate African American woman was a local washerwoman in Hattiesburg, Mississippi who became the most famous benefactor. She was not educated but she was taught to save money by her mother. She opened her bank account with the National Bank of Mississippi and started to save her money. She was walking to get groceries and never spent money on expensive things. When her mother and aunt died she received money and she saved all that money in the bank. She was not married and when the Bank manager asked her what will she do with the money, she said that she will donate 60% of the savings to provide scholarships to the deserving students of African-American origin. She kept 10% for her church and 10% each for her three relatives. American President Bill Clinton presented McCarty Osceola the “Presidential Citizens Medal”, the nation’s second-highest civilian award during a special White House Ceremony. We should be the givers so that the society benefits from us”.
Dr M V Prabhu read out the names of the donors. Anuradha Shanthi Pai was felicitated on the occasion. Prizes were distributed to the winners of the poster competition.
Professor & Unit Chief of ENT Dept. KMC Hospital Dr Suja Sreedharan delivered the vote of thanks.