Mangaluru: Kasturba Medical College Hospital Attavar, as part of its social initiative, has partnered an advanced paediatric surgical program in collaboration with Peedh Parai International, Houston (U.S.A) and Bantwal Ananth Mallya charitable trust. Through this, children of ages up to 16 with untreated complicated surgical conditions requiring very high surgical expertise will be treated free of cost this week at KMC Hospital Attavar.
The 4th year of Bal Shalyakriya Mission week was inaugurated by Sindhu B. Rupesh, Deputy Commissioner of the Dakshina Kannada district.
Speaking on the occasion, DC Rupesh said that the KMC Hospital has taken a good initiative under the Bal Shalyakriya Mission, as, through this programme, the unreached and poor children from the DK district, as well as the nearby districts and states, can get the benefit from the team of experienced doctors from different parts of the world. She also stated that serving children is a noble mission and these types of initiatives should be given widespread publicity so that the needy children from all parts of Karnataka, as well as anywhere else in India, can benefit. The DC urged the KMC Hospital to continue with such initiatives in the future and said that other private healthcare institutions should also join hands with the public health system in reaching out to the needy.
Speaking on the occasion Dr Ashwin Pimpalwar, founder-chairman of Peedh Parai International and Paediatric Surgeon from Houston, USA, said that this is the 4th Year of Bal Shalyakriya Mission in Karnataka and around 145 children have undergone free surgeries in the last three years under this mission. “This has been a voluntary contribution by team Peedh Parai and the Bantwal Ananth Mallya Charitable Trust, which comprises like-minded doctors, expert clinicians and executives with an objective to help the poor and needy,” he said.
Dr H.S. Ballal, Pro-Chancellor of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), who presided over the programme, stated that in a country like India, a public-private partnership is the best model to ensure that quality healthcare reaches all sections of society and this was initiated in the Dakshina Kannada district by the Manipal group six decades ago. “These types of social initiatives are in continuity to the vision of our founder Dr T.M.A Pai,” he said.
On the occasion, Dr. Ramakrishna Rao, District Health Officer of Dakshina Kannada, Dr Ashwin Pimpalwar, Jeetendra Nayak – Trustee, Bantwal Ananth Mallya Charitable Trust were felicitated for the tremendous and selfless service displayed in their respective fields.
Dr. Jayateertha Joshi – Pediatric Surgeon KMC Hospital, presented an overview of the types of cases screened and the treatment done in the last three years of this programme.
Dr. John Ramapuram, Medical Superintendent KMC Hospital Attavar welcomed the gathering. Dr. Deepak Madi, Deputy Medical Superintendent delivered the vote of thanks. Freeda D’souza compered the programme.
Dr. PLNG Rao- Pro Vice Chancellor MAHE, Dr. V. Surendra Shetty Pro Vice Chancellor MAHE (Mangalore campus), Dr. M .Venkatraya Prabhu, Dean -Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru, Dr. Suresh S.Rao, Trustee of Sanjeevani Charitable Trust Mumbai, C.G. Muthanna, Chief Operating Officer and Cluster Head Teaching Hospitals- MHEPL, Dr Anand Venugopal – Medical Superintendent and Regional Chief of Clinical Services KMC Hospital Ambedkar Circle, Saghir Siddiqui –Regional Chief Operating Officer, Dr Alfred Augustine -Additional Dean, Associate Deans, The Heads of Departments and doctors from KMC Mangaluru, children and parents from different parts of Karnataka and Kerala, who would benefit from the mission, were present on the occasion.
