The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : They came to say they care

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 23, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

They came to say they care

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, SEPT. 22. It was a day to say it with roses; and well-wishers of cancer patients, including Bollywood star Vivek Oberoi, who came all the way from Mumbai, and Tamil cine star, Vijay, visited patients at the Apollo Speciality Hospital to say they care.

The day began in a flurry of excitement with Vijay's early morning visit during which he distributed roses and spent time with the patients. The excitement continued with Mr. Oberoi's visit.

Volunteers praised

Mr. Oberoi commended the volunteers who provide support to the cancer patients. "There is always more that can be done, if every person could give one Sunday a month to help, it could make a big difference," he said before he went around the ward distributing roses to patients.

He recently set up the Yashodhara Oberoi Foundation to help cancer patients, after his mother who works with the terminally-ill cancer patients.

An ambassador of the Mumbai-based Cancer Patients Association for the past three years, he appealed to the government to reduce the prices of medicines to make them accessible.

At Apollo, Mr. Oberoi inaugurated the hospital's `toy bank,' and donated a teddy bear.

"To hug seriously ill kids when I am not around," he explained with a smile.

Meet celebrities

The Hospital announced the launch of the Apollo Hope Foundation, an initiative to make the wishes of cancer patients, especially those to meet celebrities, come true. In collaboration with the Forum Art Gallery, Apollo Hospitals also plans to introduce art therapy once a month for patients.

CanStop (Cancer Support Therapy to Overcome Pain) also celebrated Rose Day. They distributed roses, bookmarks, snacks and toilet kits in over eight city hospitals.

Celebrations at ICH

At the Institute of Child Health in Egmore, the paediatric haematology department, which treats children with blood-related disorders, honoured volunteers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and pharmaceutical companies that donate medicines.

About 75 per cent of the patients are treated for blood cancer, said the department head M. Venkatadesikalu. Often these children need blood transfusions to keep the white blood cell count normal.

On an average, children suffering from leukaemia undergo treatment for two-and-a-half to three years. The counsellors and members from NGOs motivate the parents to continue the multi-drug therapy.

Most parents here cannot even afford one meal a day. Volunteers from the Southern Railway Mazdoor Union supply food thrice a day.

N. Sundaradevan, secretary, health and family welfare, lauded the hospital's work and assured full support in terms of funds. Children undergoing treatment sang and danced to popular Tamil film songs.

Therapy routine

Lalitha, who now works in a library, said she came to the hospital in 1990 and had been treated for cancer. K. Sasikala, a class X student from Manali, urged parents to follow the therapy routine.

She was bed-ridden when she came to the hospital five years ago. A strict therapy regimen helped her recover, she said.

The Southern Railway Mazdoor Union conducted its fifth consecutive blood donation camp at Nakeerar arangam in which 160 railway employees donated blood.

C.A. Raja Sridhar, president of the union, presided over the camp, which was attended by senior doctors from the Institute of Child Health.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu