Rotarians are creating lasting impact, and more than the cost of these high-tech machines, the lives they will be saving are of enormous value,” said RIPE Olayinka Babalola at the installation of medical equipment at the Institute of Child Health, Egmore, a government hospital for children in Chennai.
Congratulating the Rotary Club of Chennai Upscale, RID 3234, for doing the medical project, he pointed to the ‘larger community impact’ such efforts by Rotarians will have “as they not only save precious lives, but Create a Lasting Impact in their communities.” A high frequency oscillatory ventilator (HFOV) worth ₹41 lakh, an anaesthesia workstation (₹8 lakh), and a set of furniture at the pre-operation assessment area (₹46,000) — all through CSR grants from Ford Business Solutions India — were installed at the hospital. “HFOV is one-of-its-kind ventilator that was much in demand as the hospital was not able to cater to the specific needs of children in the age group of 10–18 years… hence, following a request from them, we imported the machine from Japan,” said DG Vinod Saraogi. He lauded club president Jagjit Singh for taking the initiative and completing the project in time.
RIPE Yinka Babalola interacted with the beneficiaries and listened to their response to his query: “How do you think your life will change now after getting this Rotary gift.”
In her address, Jagjit said the HFOV was a “highly flexible ventilator that will cater to children from different age groups, from low-weight infants (300gm) to 13-year-old children weighing 40kg. This is a life-saving technology that bridges a critical gap in paediatric post-operative care.” The anaesthesia workstation would relieve children from prolonged pain following a surgery or complications, “and this equipment is generally used for doing biopsy where the patients are under sedation.” Both the machines would reduce mortality, improve outcomes by strengthening paediatric care, and instil a cosy environment in the ICU, she said. Each of this high-tech equipment would benefit 130–150 critically ill children being treated at the ICH, Egmore, in a year. The club also gave clinical tables, chairs, and other furniture for patients.
Mobility aids
Around 35 clubs of RID 3234 came together to distribute 140 pairs of hearing aids, 25 push carts, 20 wheelchairs and 13 AI-enabled smart vision glasses to beneficiaries across age groups. The total project, valued at ₹30.15 lakh, is funded by a mix of CSR grants and member sponsorship. At the packed hall of the Alumni Club of Anna University, hundreds of special children, differently-abled students, their parents, and other project beneficiaries were happy to receive the mobility aids from RIPE Babalola.
He interacted with them and listened to their response to his query: “How do you think your life will change now after getting this Rotary gift?”
RC Meenambakkam was the lead club in providing hearing aids to children, thanks to a ₹18.9 lakh CSR grant from Meridian Global Ventures. Fourteen clubs mobilised funds to provide 25 push carts, each costing ₹19,000; RC Chennai Mambalam gave 20 wheelchairs (₹1.5 lakh), sponsored by the Freedom Trust being run by Dr S Sunder, a rehab specialist and a club member. “Over the last 10 years, our club has distributed artificial limbs to around 1,000 amputees; it is an ongoing project being held across South India,” he says; and RC Madras East donated 13 AI-enabled smart vision glasses (CSR fund: ₹5 lakh).
DG Saraogi thanked the club presidents for the service projects and assured that pink autos would be given to 27 women shortly, once the vehicles were ready. “RID 3234 clubs have given 128 pink autos, each costing ₹3 lakh, through a mix of CSR grants and member contributions,” he said. Santhosh Kumar from RC Madras Ashoknagar was the event chair.
Pictures by Muthukumaran