Affordable dialysis in rural Hubli
For people battling kidney disease in the villages around Hubballi (Hubli), every dialysis session was a challenge, not just against the illness, but against distance and cost. The nearest dialysis centre was miles away, with unreliable transport options and cost that most could not afford. “Even today, there are just 4–5 dialysis centres in the area, and these facilities charge ₹2,500 per session which is unaffordable for local farmers, labourers and daily wage earners. Many patients skipped treatment or stopped altogether, simply because they had no other choice,” says Binoy Momaya, past president of the Rotary Club of Hubli South, RID 3170. He was instrumental in setting up the Rotary Hubli South-Bhanji Khimji Lifeline Dialysis Centre within a multispecialty hospital in Hubballi, “to bring hope where there was none.”
The idea was born in 2019 when the club applied for a global grant from TRF. “Unfortunately, the Covid pandemic disrupted funding, as the Foundation shifted its focus to disaster relief.” Ultimately, the centre was set up two years later in 2021 with the Rotary Club of Quedas de Igacu, Brazil, as the international partner. The project cost was ₹50 lakh, with RC Hubli South contributing ₹25 lakh. The club has 40 members and “everyone pitched in and funds were ready in just two days,” says Momaya.
In these four years, the centre has completed over 10,000 dialysis sessions, serving 300 patients regularly. “But these numbers don’t just represent treatment; they represent lives saved, families held together and hope restored.” he says. He shares two stories that capture the impact of the facility. A truck driver had lost all hope earlier as his deteriorating health forced him to stop working. “For him, dialysis wasn’t just medical care; it was his lifeline back to the driver’s seat, allowing him to provide for his family again.” Referring to a 20-year-old girl, once too weak to even walk, he says, “today, after receiving treatment at our centre, she is brimming with confidence and pursuing her graduate studies.”
The Rotary dialysis centre is the go-to facility for 25 lakh people across 100 small villages around Hubballi. Sessions are provided at a subsidised rate of ₹1,000, and five patients receive free treatment. The club covers
recurring expenses through member donations, often contributing on special occasions. Each time the club posts an appeal on social media, the response is overwhelming, says Momaya. “Our members visit the centre regularly, not just to check on the machines but to sit with patients, hear their stories, and remind them that they are not alone. For us, this is not just a project, it’s a promise,” he smiles.
Next on the cards for this 35-year-old club is setting up a neonatal intensive care unit with a GG support. Cataract surgery camps are a regular at this club. “We do 8–10 camps across villages every year, restoring sight of at least 600 people, all through member donations,” he says.
