Rotary Club of Madras East Donates State-of-the-Art Neonatal Ambulance to Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital

Chennai, June 26, 2026: A major milestone in neonatal healthcare was marked in Chennai as the Rotary Club of Madras East (RCME), in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Irvine and Rotary District 5320, USA, inaugurated Project SHISHU (Global Grant #2683839) with the donation of a state-of-the-art Neonatal Ambulance to Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital, Nungambakkam.

The ambulance was formally handed over by Rtn AKS Er. Muruganandam M (MMM), RI Vice President 2026–27 and RI Director 2025–27, in the presence of Rtn AKS Vinod Saraogi, District Governor, RID 3234, along with several distinguished Rotarians and healthcare professionals.

Event’s Youtube Video link 👇 

Valued at ₹72 lakh, this advanced ambulance is much more than a transport vehicle—it's a "Neonatal ICU on Wheels." Equipped with a transport incubator, neonatal ventilator, advanced life-support systems, and NICU-grade monitoring equipment, it will ensure critically ill and premature newborns receive uninterrupted intensive care while being transported from hospitals across Tamil Nadu and even neighboring states to CHILDS Trust Hospital.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Janani Sankar, Medical Director of Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Rotary Club for this life-saving contribution. She highlighted that the ambulance is specially designed to care for extremely premature babies born as early as 24 weeks and weighing less than 600 grams, ensuring they receive advanced neonatal care from the moment they begin their journey until they reach the hospital's world-class NICU.

RCME President Rtn Balaji Sreenivasan said that since its formation in 1985, the club has remained committed to meaningful community service. He noted that Project SHISHU reflects Rotary's unwavering dedication to maternal and child healthcare, ensuring that no newborn loses the fight for survival because critical medical transport was unavailable. He also highlighted the club's extensive initiatives in neonatal care, pediatric heart surgeries, cancer care, vision restoration, mental health, women empowerment, youth development, and community wellness.

Project SHISHU is a shining example of how international collaboration can create lasting humanitarian impact. Through the support of Rotary International's Global Grant program and the partnership between Rotary Clubs in India and the USA, this initiative will help save countless newborn lives by providing safe, timely, and specialized neonatal transport.

Every second matters in neonatal emergencies—and this remarkable initiative brings hope, advanced medical care, and a stronger chance of survival to the tiniest patients who need it most.

#RotaryClub #RotaryClubOfMadrasEast #ProjectSHISHU #NeonatalAmbulance

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