Quarterly Newsletter May 2011 Journey 9
JOURNEY
A Newsletter of Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre
Vision: No man is too poor to afford first grade medical treatment Mission: World class care within everybody's reach Values : Care Compassion Commitment Charity Empathy Quality Service
“... the health of a community depends heavily on its largest healthcare entity – its hospital.”
More than 25 years ago, our Hospital was founded to meet an obvious need. That need was a modern hospital to care for people locally so they didn't have to travel far from home. Then later, Meenakshi Mission Hospital continues to meet that need. As it was in 1985, our Hospital remains a private, not-forprofit charitable hospital. Our chairman believed this was the best way to promote high quality treatment with affordable or free cost that suits every person in the community.. It's important too that Meenakshi Mission Hospital remains locally owned and locally managed. This is all good news for our patients, this community, and the 2,500 more employees who work here. And it should help to ensure that the hospital will be here 25 years of services from now. We hope you enjoy the summer edition of the News. There are plenty of fun and energetic activities - a function to encourage home guards, observation of anti drugs day, completion of 6000 cleft surgeries, recognizing the blood donors and much more to come… you'll read in this issue…. Despite many challenges, we are very positive about the rest of 2011 and continue to be impressed by the efforts of our many wonderful supporters like you.
ding! a e r y p p a H
The Editor
Inside this
Dear Readers,
issue….
Says Dr. N. Sethuraman Founder Chairman of our hospital Charity Chancellors An accolade to Home Guards Doing good in the world Successful Completion of Cleft Surgeries Appeal News Free space by Chennai Trade Centre Upcoming Event Operation India 20/20 Won't you help? Your Side Success Stories FCC- a small anecdote Telecare- Latest Technology Trends Fundraising Course A passion for Saving Lives Guiding Stars Light the Way Quarterly Donors-Honour Roll List
2 5 6 8 9 10 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 24
Quarterly Highlights… FREE SERVICES Inpatient Treatment Outpatient Treatment Cleft Lip/Palate Surgeries Food to Poor Patients Medical Camps Family Planning Surgeries TB Treatment
3252 29096 231 12965 134 40 595
Family Counselling Services HIV Counseling & Testing Children Cancer Treatment Dialysis Cataract Surgeries Blood Units Distributed Palliative Care
31 1270 34 212 76 135 344
Charity Chancellors This page is dedicated for those who have donated ` 10,000 and above.
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CAMILLA CHILDREN CANCER FUND Mrs. Vimala Lal New Delhi Mr. Ajay Agarwal Chennai Students of M/s. M.O.P. Vaishnav College for Women Chennai Mr. Suresh Chennai Dr. Radha Lal & Jawahar Lal USA Ms. Erin Reynolds USA M/s. Tata Consultancy Services Chennai Mr. Ashok Kumar Chennai M/s. Royal Splendour Developers Pvt Ltd Chennai Mr. Govindaraj Coimbatore M/s. Food Ingredient Specialized Ind Pvt Ltd Chennai Mr. M.R. Lakshmi Narasimhan Kanchipuram Mr. CSM. Rajesh Kumar Chennai Mr. Prabu Chennai Mr. R. Mahalingam Chennai Mr. S. Jegadeesan Madurai M/s. TECPRO Systems Ltd Chennai Mr. Siddharth & Mrs. Kavitha Siddharth USA Mr. Krishnan Chennai Mr. Srikanth Srinivasan Chennai Mr. J. Govardhanan Chennai Mr. Mohansundar Lakshmanan Chennai Mr. T. Kamesh Vellore Mr. Maria Zeena Johnson Chennai M/s. Equiniti ICS India Pvt Ltd Chennai Mr. Y. Radhakrishnan Murthy Chennai Mr. Chetan B Jain Chennai Ms. A. Lucy Prema Chennai Mr. Vijay Viswanathan Chennai Mr. N. Bharath Chennai Mr. Ramakrishnan Chennai Mr. J. Ramanan Chennai Mr. T. Muthuraj Chennai Mr. T. Anbulingom Chennai M/s. Jewel Crafts, Chennai M/s. IDDPL Kai Koduppom Anbudan Chennai Mr. B.S. Arvind Chennai M/s. Pothys Clothing Pvt Ltd Chennai Mr. U. Parameswaran Chennai Mr. Karuppasamy Thuthukudi Mr. Ramanujam Murali Chennai Mr. M. Hariharan Trichy Mr. Pradeep Chennai M/s. Crown Construction Chennai
` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` `
11,00,000 1,50,000 1,50,000 1,00,000 1,00,000 90,300 63,725 27,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 25000 25,000 24,000 22,000 21,000 20,000 15,118 15,000 15,000 15,000 14,500 12,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000
Charity Chancellors This page is dedicated for those who have donated ` 10,000 and above Mr. S. Kalai Thambi Chennai Mrs. Lavanya Rajagopalan Chennai Mr. G. Manoharan Chennai Mr. R. Parthasarathy Chennai Mr. D. Radha Mohan Chennai Mr. Sabarish Ramanlal Chennai Mr. D. Samuel Surendran Chennai Mr. Saravana Kumar Chennai Mr. S. Veera Raghavan Chennai Mr. P. Vivek Chennai Mr. Ramalingam Chennai Mr. Robert Stantish Chennai Ms. Shanthi Chennai Mr. R. Seshadri Chennai M/s. Runjith Water Suppliers Chennai Mr. Santosh Salem Mr. Parthasarathy Chennai Mr. P. Vadiraja Upadhaya Chennai Mr. K.R. Vijayan Chennai Mr. P. Sivakumar Chennai M/s. Jagannath Textiles Company Ltd Coimbatore Mr. Aashish Agarwal Chennai Mrs. Anitha Mathankumar Thoothukudi Mr. S. Parthasarathy Virudhunagar Mr. Babu Madurai Dr. Sundar Jayabose USA Dr. S. Lakshmi MMHRC, Madurai
` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` `
10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000
SAVE THE LITTLE HEARTS Mr. V. Senthil Kumar Chennai
` 10,000
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` 1,00,000 ` 85,000 ` 20,005 ` 20,000 ` 20,000 ` 20,000 ` 20,000 ` 12,800 ` 10,000 ` 10,000 ` 10,000 ` 10,000 ` 10,000
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Dr. Radha Lal & Jawahar Lal USA Mr. G.B. Arunkumar Madurai Mr. Vijaya Kumar Madurai Dr. Sampath Kumar MMHRC, Madurai Mr. S. Pandiyarajan Tiruchirapalli Mrs. Uma Chandra Mouli Sivagangai Mr. M. Vijayaraman Usilampatti M/s. Shri Nataraj Ceramic and Chemical Industries Tiruchirapalli Mr.M.S. Rajamanickam Chennai Mr. V.R.R. Ramalingam Madurai Mr. K. Mayandi Thevar (Late) Thirunelveli Mr. K. Damotharan Madurai Ln. Er. A. Shanmuga Sundaram Trustee, MMHRC, Madurai
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FREE MEALS SCHEME
Our Project Partners The Direct Relief International (DRI), USA has donated ` 4,35,00,000 worth of medicines, medical equipments and consumables for the poor and needy persons. The Smile Train, USA has sanctioned ` 52,04,000 towards providing free quality corrective cleft lip/palate surgeries. The Americares India, Mumbai has donated ` 5,85,000 worth of medicines to the poor and needy persons. The Vitamin Angels Alliance, USA has donated ` 4,00,000 worth of Vitamin A capsules and Albendizole tablets for 2 lakhs of children. The Tamil Nadu Social Welfare Board, Chennai has sanctioned ` 2,88,000 towards Family Counselling Centre at our hospital. The District TB Centre, Madurai has sanctioned ` 1,50,000 towards Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) for providing free TB treatment.
Health funds ` 1,82,580 received from Prime Minister Relief Fund towards free treatment for the poor and the needy. ` 1,75,000 received from Tamil Nadu Illness Society towards free medical treatment
for the poor patients. ` 1,37,609 received through Dinamalar free advertisement for providing free medical
treatment to 4 children. ` 1,00,000 donated by Shirdi Sai Trust, Chennai towards providing free medical treatment for 4 patients. ` 50,000 donated by Raja Charity Trust, Rajapalayam towards free cancer treatment for 1 patient. ` 46,500 received as family planning grant from Tamil Nadu Health and
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Family Welfare Department, Chennai. ` 2,500 donated by Rajam Ammal and Savithiri Ammal Memorial Charitable Trust, Chennai for free cancer treatment.
n w e em ? u o y ail this n e w sl e t t e r t o Quite a few of our supporters have already asked us to send this newsletter to them by email rather than in the post. If you have an email address and would prefer us to contact you in this way to save on costs for printing and posting and help the environment, please send an email to communicationsrd@gmail.com giving us your name and address and permission to send you a newsletter via email and we'll take it from there.
An Accolade to Home Guards
Through this function, our hospital as a first initiative made a landmark by curtailing corruption & poverty with the concept of home guards at various states of India.
In this function, Mr. Raja Govindasamy, the Director of Mannar Thirumalai Nayakar College, Mr. Karmegamani, Director of Solaimalai Groups, Mr. Venkatesh, Area Commander, Home Guards, Mr. Mahendravel, Director of Tamil Nadu Mercantile Bank, Mrs. Rajakumari, Chairman, Chamber of Commerce Women's Forum and Dr. N. Sethuraman, Founder Chairman participated and accoladed the services of home guards. More than 400 home guards from Madurai Jurisdiction participated in the program.
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The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
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In today's busy world, eventhough we have reached many destinations, poverty and corruption stands to be the number one hurdle affecting India's growth & development. Home Guards have a vital role in eliminating such problems out of the society and create a better India with prospective growth & development.
THE FUTURE VISION PLAN
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In recognizing the services of home guards, our hospital organized a function as a token of honouring the best services by them to the mankind.
DOING GOOD IN THE WORLD Blood donation and savings one's life is worth sharing! “Service above Self means helping people we may never meet in a place that we may never visit . . . so we must be content with the satisfaction that we have done good, that we have affected the lives of thousands of human beings who suffered from hunger, disease, ignorance and the ravages of war.
This satisfaction is one of life's greatest rewards.” “Every 2 seconds someone needs blood. Your blood helps more than one life at a time. Accident victims, premature babies, patients undergoing major surgeries require whole blood, where your blood after testing is used directly. Patients suffering from trauma, anaemia and other surgeries require only red blood cells, which is separated from your blood”
Why Donate Blood? Blood is the living fluid that all life is based on. Blood is composed of 60% liquid part and 40% solid part. The liquid part called Plasma, made up of 90% water and 10% nutrients, hormones, etc. is easily replenished by food, medicines, etc. But the solid part that contains RBC (red blood cells), WBC (white blood cells) and Platelets take valuable time to be replaced if lost. This is where you come in. The time taken by a patient's body to replace it could cost his/her life. Sometimes the body might not be in a condition to replace it at all. As you know blood cannot be harvested it can only be donated. This means only you can save a life that needs blood. Every year, India requires 4 crore units of 250cc blood out of which only a meager 5 lakhs of blood units are available.
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We thank the following organizations who have voluntarily donated blood for various live saving mission! M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s.
Kalasalingam University, Krishnankoil Mohamed Sathak Engineering College, Ramnad R.L. Institute of Nautical Sciences, Madurai Dhanapandiyan Polytechnic College, Madurai K.L.N. Polytechnic College, Madurai Parvathy Arts College, Dindigul Raja College of Engineering & Technology, Madurai Subbulakshmi Lakshmipathy College, TVR Nagar, Madurai Rotary Club Palani Andavar Polytechnic, Madurai S.V.N. College, Madurai Yadava College, Madurai S.S.A. College, Devakottai Govt. Law College, Madurai Nethaji National Association, Madurai Mangayarkarasi Women College, Paravai, Madurai
(800 units) (338 units) (290 units) (220 units) (176 units) (136 units) (128 units) (127 units) (117 units) (109 units) (109 units) (100 units) (92 units) (83 units) (78 units)
Sermathai Vasan Women College, Madurai Airtel Zonal Office, Madurai S.N. College, Perungudi St. Michael College of Engineering & Technology, Kalaiyarkoil All India Congress Party, Madurai Mahatma Montessori School, Madurai AIADMK, Solavandan Region CPA College, Bodi Sivakasi Nadar Women College, Madurai S.S.V.K Trust, Maravar Savadi, Madurai Hotel Germanus, Madurai Fortune Pandiyan Hotel, Madurai Thirumuruga Iyappa Seva Sangam, Madurai ASSEFA College of B.Ed, Madurai Raja College of Paramedical Science, Srivilliputhur T.E.L.C ITI, Dindigul Mahasemam (Head Office), Madurai Aircel Office, Madurai Indian Oil Corporation, Madurai St. Mary's School, Madurai Lafarhge Aggregates & Concrete, Madurai Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Party, Madurai AIADMK, Madurai City Senthamil College, Madurai Electricity Members Association, Madurai India Nadar Ilaignar Peravai, Madurai Lions Club of Madurai Vaigai
an even smaller effort by saying
"yes".
Educational Outreach! Dissemination of our services at Education Stall organized by Indian Express where our hospital has been provided a stall to display our educational activities to the students and general public. Honourable Madurai Collector Mr. Sagayam Inaugurated the program. Various schools and colleges participated in the program
Contact : Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre Regional Blood Transfusion Centre @ 91-452-426 3000 Extension : 3014.
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You could just do it with a small thought and
Do you want to donate blood?
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Saving a life does not require heroic deeds.
(72 units) (68 units) (67 units) (67 units) (59 units) (58 units) (57 units) (48 units) (48 units) (45 units) (36 units) (33 units) (33 units) (33 units) (29 units) (26 units) (25 units) (25 units) (25 units) (20 units) (17 units) (16 units) (16 units) (16 units) (15 units) (14 units) (11 units)
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M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s. M/s.
We have forever changed the lives in
Free quality corrective cleft surgeries at one destination
just 45 minutes! Now, we are celebrating
6000 smiles
with hope & happiness!
Since 2003, the Smile Train USA, our valuable partner has helped us perform 6000 more cleft lip/palate surgeries free of cost…
SmileTrain
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Changing The World One Smile At A Time.
You can also be part of this mission… If you come across any children or person with cleft lip/palate nearby your area, kindly refer them to:
Meenakshi Mission Hospital Regional Smile Train Centre Phone : 91-452-426 3000, Extn : 3266/3332/3379
We have got our smiles back! Thank you so much….
Appeal News! Fundraising effor ts benefit poor dialysis patients too!
Total Raised So Far Our hospital has been striving hard to help poor patients to undergo dialysis. With such donors, we were able to give up smiles to many families at dialysis centre at Meenakshi Mission Hospital. Since 2 years, we have raised more than ` 3,50,000 for patients receiving haemodialysis treatment. Patients undergoing dialysis on the unit, often receive treatment three times a week, for upto four hours at a time.
Eternal life evolves from instilling a thought, an idea or tradition in another human being so that it continues....
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Our Resource and Development Unit continue to raise funds to create an environment which exceeds the expectations of patients and visitors.
A big thank you to all our supporters. With your help we can reach our target
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We thank the generosity of people who have been able to provide life to enhance the experience that these patients have whilst in hospital.�
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“The patients cared for on the haemodialysis unit often have life limiting problems and are required to spend a large proportion of their time in hospital undergoing treatment or dialysis.
Free Space at Trade Centre, Chennai! Our hospital enjoys the privilege of having free space in Trade Centre, Chennai in the events of CII (Confederation of Indian Industries) to display the Telemedicine centre and demonstrate its process. We displayed the Telemedicine process two times at the Trade Centre, Chennai without paying any rent and amenity charges. We explained all about telecare activities in industrial context and demonstrated for the CEOs of corporate houses and officials. During the display, we could able to treat those delegates who are in need of treatment during their visit to exhibition and conference. The visitors also recommended Telemedicine centre at their premises. We are discussing with interested business houses to establish Telemedicine centres in their premises so as to provide medical care vide Telemedicine gadgets.
Run or Walk, There's something for everybody! We are observing International Anti - Drugs Day on 26th June 2011 in collaboration with schools and colleges from Madurai district. A marathon with 30 minutes walk or run will be organized from Meenakshi Mission Hospital to Madurai Collector Office full of fun. This is a great opportunity to participate in a societal event by saying NO TO DRUGS and as a part of physical fitness too!
Just Sa
y
Just know it?
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Drug is the perfect killer of the society. When is International Anti - Drugs Day celebrated? th According to the UN general Assembly, 26 June is declared as the day to be celebrated as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Initiation of International Anti - Drugs Day It was first on 1987, when UN general Assembly proclaimed that day for celebration. Why International Anti - Drugs Day is celebrated? It is the celebration of keeping much stronger resolution for making world against the drug addiction and taking the oath of converting international society free of drug abuse.
's t e L ! Come join us in the rally
NO!
O DRUGS‌. T O N SAY
Operation India 20/20 Blindness Control Program in India In addition to the preventive services, the children and their parents are given awareness on the importance of Vitamin A, and the harmful effect of worms in children. Personal meeting with beneficiaries, distribution of handouts and posters are used to educate the target beneficiaries. More than 20 Non-Governmental organizations are collaborating with us in the blindness control program. The programs are implemented under the able leadership of Mr. Howard B Schiffer, the Founder and President, Vitamin Angels Alliance, USA. The Regional office of Vitamin Angels at Mumbai is looking after the program implementation at northern parts of Tamil Nadu. Dr. Shilpa Bhatte, Consultant, Vitamin Angels Alliance India is extending her expertise in the administration of vitamin supplements and de-worming.
Vitamin Angels implements blindness control program by the name Operation India 20/20. Under this program, the children at remote villages who are suffering with vitamin A deficiencies are distributed vitamin supplements. Along with the vitamin distribution, the children are also given medicine for worms.
Mr. Howard B Schiffer, The Founder and President, Vitamin Angels Alliance USA training the NGO worker about the administration of Vitamin A
Under this program 2 million children from Kanyakumari to Kashmir are receiving the benefits.
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ince 2006, our hospital has been implementing Blindness Control Program in India with the support of Vitamin Angels Alliance, USA.
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Miss. Zoe Howard, Daughter of Mr. Howard B Schiffer, The Founder and President, Vitamin Angels Alliance USA visited India and observed the distribution in person
The beneficiaries are waiting to get Vitamin A along with de-worming tablets
Initiation of Operation 20/20 in West Bengal
In addition to the blindness control program,
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to enhance the health of young mothers and adolescents with safe nutrients, Vitamin Angels has also provided Pre-natal and Post-natal vitamin mineral supplements for 0.3 million women in India. Distribution of Vitamin A at Thirumohur Panchayat Union School, Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Won't You Help? "Building healthy communities" Good health stands to be one of the pillars in building healthy communities. Health care is the basic need shared by all. But still, many villages lack basic health amenities which affects children drastically. By making health care accessible to such deserving children, we believe that small things can make biggest difference in their life and by saving millions of children in India.
Help us "Reach the Unreached" by making a gift today by building healthy communities in each village.
Join the campaign!
We thank Mr. Gopi of Thiruveni Groups, Kanyakumari District for his support in placing charity boxes at various destinations in and around Kanyakumari. Largest contribution is made from his group regularly. On behalf of our team, we grately thank him for his dedicated services all through these years.
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91-452-4219292 / 4219393 or charitymeenakshimission@gmail.com
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On their behalf, thank you for caring!
For more information please contact us @
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An envelope is provided for your convenience. Remember, 100% of your gift will go to providing direct health care services to children in need.
Want to Stay Healthy? Wash Your Hands! In this day and age of hundred medications and remedies available for what ails you, it's pretty incredible to think there is one simple thing that may help us avoid becoming ill in the first place ... hand washing! This time of year, as colds and the flu abound, remember, hand washing is one of the best precautions against these illnesses. “Don't limit hand washing to traditional times, such as before meals or after using the bathroom”. Viruses can be found anywhere from shopping carts to railings and everywhere in-between. All one has to do is touch one of these surfaces where a live virus lives and illness can follow shortly behind. This is why frequent hand washing is so important.”
Hands should be washed after the following activities… After touching bare human body parts other than clean hands and clean, exposed portions of arms After using the toilet After coughing, sneezing, using a handkerchief or disposable tissue, using tobacco, eating or drinking After handling soiled equipment or utensils After food preparation, as often as necessary to remove soil and contamination and to prevent cross-contamination when changing tasks After switching between working with raw food and working with ready-to-eat food After engaging in other activities that contaminate the hands
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After handling or touching pets.
Steps to proper hand washing Use soap and warm running water. Hands should be rubbed vigorously during washing for at least 20 seconds with special attention paid to the backs of the hands, wrists, between the fingers and under the fingernails. Hands should be rinsed well while leaving the water running. With the water running, hands should be dried with a single-use towel or an electric air dryer in public restrooms. Turn off the water using a paper towel if possible, covering washed hands to prevent re-contamination.
Move in for kids' Workouts it's been well publicized that children should get 60minutes of physical activity each day. But as the days get shorter and the air gets colder, many parents are left wondering how this is possible during the long winter months. Moving kid-friendly physical activity indoors can be challenging, but it's not impossible. So take your child for 60 minutes walk, cycling or jogging early morning, you can involve them in swimming activities, entertain the children at home by showing them exercise, yoga and aerobics through DVDs, and one of the easiest ways to get your kids moving is to turn some upbeat music and let them create their own dance moves. Although summer can be very challenging for kids to be active without any fatigue, with a little research and creativity, it's a great time to introduce new activities and enjoy those hot days.
Success Stories
begin at our hospital Immanuel's cancer is in Remission – Thanks to Camila Children Cancer Care When Immanuel was 2 year old, his parents, Mr. Punithan, an auto-driver and Mrs. Rebecca, living in a rental house, at Madakulam, an extension area of Madurai, Tamilnadu, India noticed he had frequent fever and bleeding in tooth ridges. On 8th December 2009, a blood test revealed that Immanuel's iron count in blood was dangerously low, the results were startling to his family - Immanuel had leukemia. “That was the worst day of our lives,” said Punithan. “We were devastated. The day they told us, I couldn't hear, I Couldn't see – I just shut down. Immanuel's leukemia had not yet spread to his bloodstream or vital organs, but was “hiding” in his spine, which is why it had been undetected – until Immanuel arrived at our Paediatric Oncology centre in our hospital. After being diagnosed, Immanuel underwent almost one years of aggressive chemotherapy in the in/out patient cancer clinic. Some weeks, he received chemo four days in a row, and his treatments lasted up to eight hours at a stretch. Today, Immanuel's cancer is in emission and he has completed all of his chemo cycles and moved to the final stage of his treatment, in which he will come to the hospital once in a month for his periodical check up for 2 years until he is 5 years old. His parents are thankful to every donor who helped their son's treatment.
Volunteer – a gift to the community! Being a graduate in Gymnasium with Media & Information Science, he shared his support & expertise towards us in various welfare cum charity activities of the hospital.
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We thank you so much for being with us!
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Mr. Johannes Asanger, German, a volunteer from Projects Abroad served at our hospital for more than a month at various hospital destinations.
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While season change, our hospital's commitment to our community is constant, year in and year out.
A small anecdote
Family Counselling Centre….
The stresses of daily life can be challenging—raising your kids, finding work, balancing work and family life, managing money, maintaining a good place for you and your family to live. These challenges can sometimes seem overwhelming, especially when complicated by the impact of conflict, loss, trauma, anxiety or depression. Knowing yourself well enough to understand when you need help is a sign of strength. Help could be as simple as having the opportunity to tell your story, or as complex as developing a plan to begin the journey toward change in your life. Either way, we at Family Counselling Centre (FCC) are committed to helping you find your strength and are ready to work with you to find solutions that are right for you. The FCC at our hospital has been supported by the Tamil Nadu Social Welfare Board since 2003. Since its beginning, the Centre has offered programs to strengthen, promote and preserve individual and family life. The Centre seeks to assist people in resolving psychosocial problems, in learning strategies to deal with life stresses and disabilities, and in developing more satisfying interpersonal relationships. The Centre's services are available to any individual, couple or family living without regard to race, ethnic origin, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age or economic status. At Family Counselling Centre we believe that everyone has a right to live without the fear of being hurt—emotionally, physically, sexually. We understand the impact of abuse and violence in your life and are here to help you deal with it. We are ready to help you and your family begins to do things differently. Our job is not to blame but to help provide the tools you need to live a life that embraces respect, fairness, trust, partnership and honesty.
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Sometimes when you and your children are struggling, the road ahead can seem confusing and intimidating. When you begin to reach out for help it may feel as if you are struggling to put the pieces of a puzzle together. Through counselling, information, referral, service coordination and advocacy we can help you begin to solve that puzzle. At Family Counselling Centre we are ready to assist you as you sort out what you and your children need, and to support you to work toward positive change… So far, we have counselled hundreds of persons at our centre by lighting their lives with abundant joy, cheer & happiness.
In appreciating the services of our Family Counselling Centre, Mrs. Sulata Deo, Chairperson of Odisha State Social Welfare Board visited our centre.
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Family life is full of challenges. Special needs, like developmental disabilities or problem that come with advancing age, can make those challenges seem overwhelming. At Family Counselling Centre there is someone ready to get to know you, sort out what you need and speak on your behalf if needed. We understand you need to live safely, independently and free from worry. We can help you and your families find solutions that will help you reach your potential and support you to participate fully in your community through work, play and friendship.
Thanks for your visit & we really value it!
Latest Technology Trends New Frontier at our hospital An emerging paradigm for delivering affordable quality healthcare‌ The concept of Telemedicine was introduced more than 30 years ago through the use of telephone, facsimile machine and slow-scan images. However, the enabling technology has grown considerably in the past decade. The term Telemedicine, in short refers to the utilization of telecommunication technology for medical diagnosis, treatment and patient care. At our hospital, we initiated this concept on October 2009 with the vision of bringing health care to all at affordable or free cost. So far, 4 Telemedicine centres have been established at various districts of Tamil Nadu. The Telemedicine model of our hospital is functioning in different villages which are suitable to any place. With the Telemedicine model of our hospital, any remote or under developed areas can be connected with speciality hospitals. In recognition of our Telemedicine model, Bhratha Ratna Dr. APJ. Abdul Kalam included in his PURA (Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) concept and launched it in Thonukal village. Mr. V. Ponraj, Adviser, Office of the Former President of India gives his expertise for the Telemedicine Centres of our hospital. He is also looking for partners to expand our Telemedicine model for remote villages as to provide round the clock health care services.
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Through Telemedicine initiatives, we have conducted 45 camps and treated 7290 patients.
By training more than 100 students in fundraising, Meenakshi Mission Hospital in collaboration with Madurai Kamaraj University has stepped in its seventh academic year.
The enrollment of the course has started NOW ! Interested students or working people are invited to join the course & meet the professionals in
Fundraising Course enters into its th
7 year!
Application form can be downloaded @ www.meenakshimission.org or contact the
“Course Coordinator� at 91-452-4263000 Extn. 3464
! y a d o t s u Join
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New member to our Meenakshi Mission Family! Mr. Victor Chandran has joined our hospital as Head of the department of Resource and Development / International Relations / Social Projects. He has has rich experience in administration, fundraising and organization development has worked at various renowned international organizations like World Vision, Habitat for Humanity etc. He had done his MA in English & MBA from Eastern University, USA.
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Learn Fundraising in JUST 12 months.
fundraising.
On behalf of Management and Trustees, we welcome you!
A Passion for saving lives! We want to express our gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Vimala Lal of New Delhi for her extremely generous donation to the Camila Children's Cancer Fund. She made an initial donation of 10 lakhs in February 2011 and is making a monthly donation of one lakh for twelve months starting April of 2011. Hers has been the single largest donation to the Fund. Dr. Lal is the aunt of *Dr. Jayabose's first patient Vinay in New York in 1981. Vinay, who had leukemia at the age of three, is now a healthy 32 year old and a successful businessman. Dr. Lal came to know about Dr. Jayabose's work and the Camila Children's Cancer Centre at Meenakshi Mission Hospital; and wanted to lend a helping hand to our mission. Only because of donations like these we are able to
We greatly appreciate Dr. Vimala Lal for her contributions to our organization, and promise to continue and expand our mission of helping children with cancer.
A
G I Bthank you!
We wish her all the best and best of health. * Dr. S. Jayabose is the director for Paediatric Oncology & Paediatric Haematology
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pay for their care.
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child with cancer regardless of their ability to
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honor our commitment to treat every single
Guiding stars light the way‌. The Direct Relief International (DRI), USA Our hospital has been implementing different free medical care and related activities in collaboration with Direct Relief International USA since 2004. Direct Relief I nte r n at i o n a l p ro v i d e s medical assistance to improve the quality of life of people affected by poverty, disaster, and civil unrest at home and throughout the world. DRI is strengthening our health efforts by providing essential grant, material resources – medicines, supplies and equipments.
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Health has intrinsic value for every person, but it is also essential for people to learn, work, and make a living. Sick people who do not receive care cannot work, and they get poor or stay poor; and people who are poor are at higher risk of getting sick. Breaking this vicious cycle is an enormously complex endeavor requiring change in many areas other than health services. However, under any scenario, better access to health services for people stuck in this cycle is an integral to positive change on a humanitarian level and for economic productivity. In developing countries, financing health services is extremely difficult. The trained health professionals in medically underserved communities represent the most important part of the healthcare infrastructure. Direct Relief's support enables them to stay productively engaged so their patients can receive needed care. Our hospital has made positive impact among the sick and Tsunami victims by implementing the following medical program with the support of Direct Relief International-USA. Health camps among the Tsunami victims On 26th December 2004 the people of coastal belt from Kanyakumari to Chennai in Tamil Nadu were affected by Tsunami. Immediately after the Tsunami, our hospital launched its relief activities along with medical care for Tsunami victims. With the support of Direct Relief International – USA, we organized four health Care team and conducted health camp for the Tsunami victims in the post Tsunami context.
Each health camp team with two medical doctors, three nurses, two lab technicians, one pharmacist, one coordinator, one counsellor, one health camp assistant and one driver with an ambulance covered villages located in 120 Kms stretch of seashore areas. Daily twelve health camps were conducted by the four health camp teams and treated about 1200 Tsunami victims. Those victimized who need treatment for major ailments referred to local hospitals. The health camps were conducted for three years continuously. The damage caused due to Tsunami and health of the victims was taken care by our hospital health teams from Chennai to Kanyakumari. For about three years we could able to provide treatment, medical consultation, referral services, counselling etc free of cost for about 5 lakhs of people victimized by Tsunami with the grant support of Direct Relief International. Mobile Telemedicine Van In collaboration with Direct Relief International, our hospital has started Telemedicine activities with a mobile Telemedicine van connected with broadband of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) is in operation. ` 3 crores worth of project is equipped with diagnostic gadgets, satellite link and treatment facilities which could be provided at any remote areas for treatment. In addition, it can connect the patients with super speciality hospitals for medical inputs on some health issues. In normal situation, the Telemedicine van move to villages and provide treatment. At times of emergency, the Telemedicine van used to camp and provide appropriate medical care for the victims. Community Telemedicine In collaboration with Direct Relief International, our hospital have established four-Telemedicine centres at four remote villages of Tamil Nadu. Through this project, the remote villages are connected with the 650 beded Meenakshi Mission Hospital and provided with round the clock medical care.
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Mission Hospital) and their family members living in remote villages t h ro u g h r e c o g n i ze d medical experts. Medical equipments are established at villages in a small room and connected to speciality hospital by using broadband connectivity. Two t ra i n e d n u rs e s operate the medical equipments, record the
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Telemedicine, a manifestation of Information Technology in health care sector ensures round the clock cost effective treatment facilities at the doorsteps of Self Help groups - MAHASEMAM (Sister concern of Meenakshi
health parameters of patients if necessary, ECG, X-ray, blood sugar content etc are taken and refer the datum to the doctor at our hospital. Accordingly prescription and consultation are given. The full process are executed vide electronic gadgets. The innovative concept of Telemedicine in health care delivery system in partnership with micro credit / finance institution (MAHASEMAM) has been implemented since three years in four villages by our hospital. Knowing about the tremendous impact of the Telemedicine program among the rural mass, Bharat Ratna Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, included Telemedicine health care in his PURA concept and launched the same at th Thonukal village, Virudunagar District, Tamil Nadu on 19 May 2010. The projects are successfully functioning with sustainability and full participation of members of Micro Finance organizations.
DRI- MMHRC Health Centers in Pulicat Island In collaboration with Direct Relief International, our hospital has been running two health centres in Gunamkuppam and Arangkam and provides treatment to about 100 Island dwellers since 2009. A team of medical and para medical staff are staying at the remote Island to treat the patients.
Medicine, medical supplies and Medical equipments
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Our hospital is a 650-bedded multi speciality hospital functioning with 46 medical departments. 20% of the inpatients and 40% of the out patients are provided free treatment. In addition, we also execute three rural sub centres, one mobile Telemedicine van, four community Telemedicine Centres in four localities, two health centres in Pulicat Island and conducts four-health camp every week in remote villages. The grant, medicine, medical supplies and medical equipments donated by Direct Relief International under Indo US Bilateral agreement are utilized for free medical activities of our hospital.
On behalf of the poor patients and Tsunami victims, we whole-heartedly thank Direct Relief International –US for supporting free medical care activities of MMHRC.
e c i o V y r a i c i f e Ben
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Beneficiary Voice