Mangaluru – Health and Family Welfare Minister and Dakshina Kannada District In-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announced that necessary measures will be implemented to set up libraries within all district hospitals across Karnataka.
He was speaking at the inauguration event of a newly relocated public reading room and library on the premises of Wenlock Hospital. The initiative is a collaborative effort involving the Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists’ Association, Indian Red Cross Society (Dakshina Kannada unit), Youth Red Cross, Wenlock Hospital, City Central Library, and KMC Hospital.
Minister Rao lauded the reading room project as a pioneering model for the rest of the state. He emphasized that the initiative enables patients, their caregivers, visitors, and the general public to make meaningful use of their waiting time by reading and accessing information.
The event witnessed the participation of Wenlock Hospital District Surgeon Dr. Shivaprakash, District Health Officer Dr. Thimmaiah, City Central Library Deputy Director Raghavendra, Journalists’ Association President Srinivas Nayak Indaje, KMC Associate Dean Dr. Suresh Shetty, Dr. Sheetal, IRCS representative Dr. K.R. Kamath, District Information Officer Khader Shah, retired ADC Prabhakar Sharma, former Red Cross treasurer Yatish Baikampadi, senior advisor Ravindra Nath Uchil, Rotary Club Mangalore Central President Bhaskar Rai Katta, District Chief Librarian Gayatri, and Wenlock Raksha Samiti members.
The library aims to promote a culture of knowledge and relaxation within hospital environments, setting a precedent for other districts.