KAUVERY HOSPITAL LAUNCHES PROJECT THALIRGAL TO PROVIDE FREE SURGERIES
- Kauvery Hospital in association with Rotary Club of Madras North and TN Government join hands to treat Congenital Brain and Spine problems in newborn babies for Project Thalirgal
21st June, 2019, Chennai: Kauvery Hospital, a leading multi-specialty and tertiary care
hospital chain, has announced ‘Project Thalirgal’, a new initiative in association
with Rotary Club of Madras North and
Government of Tamil Nadu to provide no
cost corrective surgeries for treating congenital abnormalities in the Spine
and Brain for babies.
Project Thalirgal involves a three-way partnership between the
Government of Tamil Nadu, Kauvery Hospital and Rotary Club of Madras North. Helping
the underprivileged sections of the society to meet the financial requirements
and giving a new lease of life to babies with congenital abnormalities, Kauvery
hospital has stepped forward to provide surgical treatment with advanced
medical facilities at a subsidized value.
In addition to the costs covered by the CM Health Scheme, the remaining
subsidized expenses will be borne by Rotary Club of Madras North which has
raised a total grant of approximately 50 lakhs rupees from across the world
with the help of Rotary Foundation.
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( Sitting L-R) Dr. G
Balamurali, Senior Consultant Spine and Neurosurgeon, Kauvery Hospital, Past
District Governor and Chairman of Golden Jublee celebration Rtn PDG Olivannan
of the Rotary Club of Madras North, Governor from Rotary, Dr Aravindan Selvaraj, Executive director of
Kauvery Hospital, Murali, Rotary Club Chennai North, Doctor from TN Govt Child
Hospital
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As part of the program, the Government Institutions and other
centres will help identify babies who require surgery and perform the necessary
pre-operation investigations. After the necessary investigations are completed,
the baby will be taken to Kauvery Hospital for the surgery, which will be
performed by Dr.G.Balamurali, Consultant Spine and Neurosurgeon along with his
team. Once the surgery is completed, the baby will be shifted back to
Government Institution for post-operative care, or treated in Kauvery Hospital
itself.
As a pilot study, Kauvery Hospital has successfully performed the
surgery on 39 babies with the support of hospital subsidy and no doctor’s fees.
The lives of these babies have been transformed.
Project Thalirgal, looks to provide an opportunity for babies born
with congenital abnormalities, survive and to lead a normal life. The project
will also help to educate and train sonologists to detect birth defects during
pregnancy at an earlier stage and create awareness among pregnant mothers on
how one can prevent congenital birth defects in the first place. The project
will also help train other surgeons and nurses in the care of such children.
Speaking about the project, Dr.
G Balamurali, Senior Consultant Spine and Neurosurgeon, Kauvery Hospital said,“Through
this project, various congenital abnormalities of the spine like spina bifid, myelomeningocele,
tethered cord, scoliosis and abnormalities in the brain like hydrocephalus and
encephalocele can be treated. There are several challenges in the treatment and
care of these babies and with the support of Kauvery Hospital management,
Government funds from schemes and grants from Rotary Club of Madras North we
have operated 39 babies free of cost.
The operations have been very successful with excellent results. Some of them are very complex operations which requires a team of doctors including neurosurgeons, plastic surgeon, anesthetist and neonatologist. The babies are usually low birth weight (1.5 – 2.5 kgs), pre term and present in a very critical condition. If timely intervention is not done, we are likely to lose these babies. The Pubic – Private Partnership to deal with these rare complex problems is a very positive initiative to use expertise and advanced facilities in both healthcare systems to benefit patients. The disease prevalence and population of India requires such a model. With new International Funds that we have received from Rotary we can make a difference not just to several babies but also to their family and in turn to our community.”
The operations have been very successful with excellent results. Some of them are very complex operations which requires a team of doctors including neurosurgeons, plastic surgeon, anesthetist and neonatologist. The babies are usually low birth weight (1.5 – 2.5 kgs), pre term and present in a very critical condition. If timely intervention is not done, we are likely to lose these babies. The Pubic – Private Partnership to deal with these rare complex problems is a very positive initiative to use expertise and advanced facilities in both healthcare systems to benefit patients. The disease prevalence and population of India requires such a model. With new International Funds that we have received from Rotary we can make a difference not just to several babies but also to their family and in turn to our community.”
Dr Aravindan Selvaraj, Executive director of Kauvery Hospital,
Chennai is
very committed to this cause, he said “Kauvery hospital has been a pioneer in delivering the
best of the healthcare by leveraging on the advancement of medical sciences for
the past 20 years. We firmly commit ourselves that these advanced surgical
treatments be available to all sections of the society, including the
underprivileged. Kauvery is proud to partner with Tamil Nadu Government and
Rotary Club of Madras North for this noble cause.”
Past District Governor
and Chairman of Golden Jublee celebration Rtn PDG Olivannan of the Rotary Club
of Madras North spoke about the
project and shared that “We, at Rotary Club of Madras North, have embarked
upon a noble project, during the golden jubilee year, - Corrective Surgeries
for Pediatric Congenital Spine and Brain Disorders, as well as follow up care
to beneficiaries. In the first phase we would be doing surgeries for
approximately 70 babies. The total cost of the project is US$46,750. INR
33 Lacs (approx.). This mammoth project was largely funded by The Rotary Foundation
and adequately supported by the following Rotary Districts and Rotary Clubs
Rotary Districts:- R C Madras North 3232 (India), R C of Bradley Sunrise
6060 and 6780, Clevland, USA), R C Kandy 3220 (Sri Lanka).”
Dr.Arasar Seeralar who very recently retired as the Director of
Institute of Child Heath, TN Government and who inititated this project from
the government side has this to say ”Neural Tube Defects (Anomalies of the spinal
cord and brain) were a neglected group
of congenital anomalies with no hope for survival and quality life. The neuro
surgeons were reluctant to handle because of the smallness of the baby and
neurological disability that one may encounter later in life. About 2 to 3
babies were born per month in IOG with NTD. Our Honorable Health Minister
during several of the review meetings would reiterate that every baby
born should be ensured survival
and quality life. It was this request that
prompted me as HOD of neonatology at IOG
to seek the expertise of the Neurosurgeons at Kauvery hospital who were
readily willing to give comprehensive newborn care and surgery free of cost to
these babies with spine and brain anomalies.
The cost was met from CMCHIS scheme and donation from Philanthropist. Since then many babies were operated by the Team headed by Dr. Balamurali at Kauvery hospital with excellent results. Several babies delivered outside of IOG in the Chennai corporation Health facility and babies born faraway districts of TN have also benefited. ICH & HC , Egmore , Chennai was celebrating its Golden Jubilee last year and it found a right Partner in Rotary club of North Madras under the Chairmanship of Rtn PDG Olivannan also celebrating its Golden Jubilee Year and Kauvery hospital who benevolently committed to this cause. It is really heartening to know that more babies born with this defect are going to get a quality survival Hope. Like the Adage prevention is better than cure. We must educate women who are planning their family to take FOLIC ACID supplement during Periconceptional period and also undergo Anomaly screening at the right period of conception (13 to 18 weeks) to avoid birth of babies with NTD.”
The cost was met from CMCHIS scheme and donation from Philanthropist. Since then many babies were operated by the Team headed by Dr. Balamurali at Kauvery hospital with excellent results. Several babies delivered outside of IOG in the Chennai corporation Health facility and babies born faraway districts of TN have also benefited. ICH & HC , Egmore , Chennai was celebrating its Golden Jubilee last year and it found a right Partner in Rotary club of North Madras under the Chairmanship of Rtn PDG Olivannan also celebrating its Golden Jubilee Year and Kauvery hospital who benevolently committed to this cause. It is really heartening to know that more babies born with this defect are going to get a quality survival Hope. Like the Adage prevention is better than cure. We must educate women who are planning their family to take FOLIC ACID supplement during Periconceptional period and also undergo Anomaly screening at the right period of conception (13 to 18 weeks) to avoid birth of babies with NTD.”
For further information or for those
seeking help under Project Thalirgal, please contact helpline number: +91 87544 56711
About Kauvery
Hospital:
Kauvery Hospitals is ‘A new
Age Family Hospital’ with Multi Specialty Clinical Expertise and a pioneer in
the ‘HealthCare Provider’ industry, making healthcare affordable. Kauvery is
one of the few corporate hospital chains to successfully integrate operations
into Tier 1 cities after launching into Tier 2 cities. It is also one of the
few hospitals founded by Medical experts and managed by business professionals
with a keen focus on delivering personalized and specialized health care with
warmth. Kauvery Hospitals is currently a 1200 bed
hospital group with presence in Chennai, Trichy, Hosur and Salem in addition to
planned entry in new markets.
Apart from having diverse Multispecialty
tertiary care expertise, Kauvery Hospitals house one of three ‘Cardiac Centers
of Excellence in South India’ and the only one in Tiruchirappalli (Trichy). In today’s times where the healthcare industry
is more and more commoditized, Kauvery Hospitals stands tall with its promise
of making medical expertise and technology truly affordable with empathy and
care at every stage of a person’s healthcare needs.
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