Boosting local healthcare and women’s empowerment

RC Manipal, RID 3182, recently upgraded the physiotherapy ­departments in two government hospitals in Kundapur and Karkala taluks in Karnataka. The project, valued at ₹34 lakh, was supported through a global grant;RCs Silicon Valley Passport and Central Chester County, RID 5170, USA, were the international partners.

The grant provided 13 varieties of physiotherapy machines to each hospital, significantly improving their capacity to serve patients. The ­selection of equipment was guided by Dr Arun Maiya, dean of ­Manipal ­College of Health Professions at ­Manipal ­Academy of Higher ­Education (MAHE). The upgraded departments will benefit various patient groups, including 1,600 endosulfan victims, as well as diabetic foot and stroke patients from remote areas.

The official handover of the equipment was done in the presence of DG BC Geetha, IPDG Dr ­Jayagowri Hadigal and DRFC chair Dr P Narayan.

A three-month intensive training focusing on skill development and business management essentials was provided to 13 women to help them become successful entrepreneurs.

The club also hosted a three-day prosthesis fitment camp at the Rotary Bhavan, providing crucial services to 200 individuals who use or need prosthetic limbs. Prosthetist specialists from Inali Foundation Pune and RC Poona Downtown, RID 3131, provided guidance and support. ­Contributions from local businesses such as Needs Manpower Support Services, Manipal Dot Net, Abharna Foundation, and numerous Rotarians and individual donors helped cover the camp’s costs.

Sewing machines worth ₹2 lakh were distributed to 20 women ­hailing from economically weak families under the club’s project, Mahila Udyamita Samridhi. The second phase of the project had a distribution of high-end electric sewing machines worth ₹1.25 lakh to local training centres. Under the third phase, a three-month intensive training focusing on skill development and business management essentials was provided to 13 women to help them become successful entrepreneurs. The topics covered included business planning, account maintenance, marketing and connecting with banks. The sessions were led by club member Dr AP Achar, dean of Corporate Programmes at the Nitte ^­University; Ramesh, executive director of ­Suphala Farmers Produce Company; and professors from the university. The programme also included visits to the Maverick Printing Lab and Nitte University, providing participants with practical insights into business operations.