Dialysis Made Affordable
Rotary International Director P T Prabhakar inaugurated Rotary Dialysis Centre at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and Research Centre, Pune on September 30, 2014.
The dialysis centre is the community service project of Rotary Club of Pune Sarasbaug, RI District 3131 with financial support from District 3131. The total cost of the project worked up to Rs 40 lakhs. The club contributed Rs 28 lakhs and the balance was funded from the District Grants. Eight dialysis machines have been installed at the centre. With plans to treat three patients per day on each machine, the club aims to extend the dialysis services to at least 24 needy patients a day.
Although, the hospital has fixed a subsidised rate of Rs 750 as against Rs 1,450 per dialysis at this centre, the facility is extended free of cost (no charge for the consumables also) to BPL patients who cannot afford the concessional rate too.
Speaking at the inaugural function, chief guest RI Director P.T. Prabhakar applauded the Rotarians for this colossal service that would enable the much needed medical care at an affordable rate for the sick people. It is indeed a huge boon for the cash-strapped community, he said. Quoting Mother Teresa and the ancient Greek king, Alexander the Great, the RI Director encouraged the Rotarians to “give” without constraint so that humanity would benefit. District Governor Vivek Aranha commented that such sustainable services would enhance Rotary’s public image and inspire more philanthropists to be part of Rotary.
Mr Pratap Rao Pawar, Chair — Sakal Media Group, PDG Deepak Shikarpur, Club President Manoj Ghodke, Secretary Neha Satalkar, Project Chair Rakesh Oswal, Medical Project Director Yogesh Rathod, other PDGs and District officials and Rotarians also graced the inaugural function. Past President of the club, Rtn Pankaj Shah, who played a significant role in this project, was also present at the function.
Begun in October 2009, Rotary Pune Sarasbaug has been active in its service to humanity. The Rotarians have brought immense benefits to the physically challenged at the Paraplegic Centre, Khadki, providing wheelchairs and tricycles to them. The club has a unique programme, ‘Adopt a village’ — an on-going project, the Rotarians concentrate all their welfare activities for a select few villages for an entire year so that the village transforms in a wholesome manner.
