K.A.Viswanathan

The Sankaracharya of Kanchi Sri Jayendra Saraswati swamigal inaugurated two dialysis machines and one  Xray machine at the medical centre of the Shanmukhananda Sabha. The dialysis machines were donated by two oldest members of the Sri Shanmukhananda  each costing above Rs 7 lakh to add to the already existing 12 machines.Sankaracharya also inaugurated the Retina detachment unit centre.

One of the machines was donated by the 90 year old Patron of the Sabha Mr N.H.Israni of Nihchal Israni foundation. So far he has donated four fourth machines for the centre. Another donor who is  an insurance practitioner  Mr. S.S.Rajan who is 86 year old has been the member of the Sabha for more than 65 years. Mr. Israni said  a single session of dialysis cost any where near Rs.3000. Where  as here they get almost free. My objective is to help patients who cannot afford,  the octogenarian said. Said Mr.Rajan, not only poor even middle class patients  finding it difficult to pay the exorbitant sum every week. As a member , I have been doing what I can to help the centre.

The Sabha has been providing  Dialysis treatments to the poor and needy residents of the City for  more than a decade, at a very nominal cost or free for  most of them  sponsored by business houses like Tata trusts said V. Shankar, president of the sabha. So far more than 60,000 patients irrespective of cast have used this facility .Dialysis has become every expensive especially to poor and the Sabha has taken this project to serve the community in this way.Besides  patients from Mumbai many from other  parts of the country especially Bihar and UP also come for  the treatment.