The Hindu : Front Page : Today's newspaper can save a life tomorrow

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 10, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Today's newspaper can save a life tomorrow

Shastry V. Mallady

"Every home that buys a daily can be a part of this cause"

MADURAI: The piled-up old newspapers at home now get a noble opportunity to save a life. They need not be sold to a hawker. Instead, they could be donated towards carrying out free heart surgeries for children.

A novel community programme called `Oor Koodi Udavuvom' was evolved in Madurai on Thursday with an objective of raising funds through collection and sale of newspapers from households and offices.

The scheme was given shape by the Vadamalayan Hospitals here involving various people, including the Member of Parliament, P.Mohan, to conduct free cardiac surgeries among children in the age group of 4 to 10 years.

While the collection campaign is to be launched on March 8, the first surgery would be carried out in the first week of April.

"This is a novel idea that will easily unite people to save a child. Every home that buys a newspaper can be a part of this cause", says Dr. V. Pugalagiri of Vadamalayan Hospitals who is a member of the special committee formed for the purpose.

Through this campaign, the hospital expects to raise up to Rs.1,50,000 with the help of students and NSS volunteers. The hospitalisation cost would be borne by the hospital while the amount collected through selling of old newspapers will be utilised for medicines/other expenses during the surgery.

The Lok Sabha MP says, "the scheme assumes importance in the wake of huge waiting list at the government hospitals and some children requiring an urgent surgery."

Modalities of collection and selling of old newspapers and the collection points are being worked out now. And, the hospital was keen that two surgeries should be done every month. More information can be had from the hospital on phone numbers: 0452-2532180, 2532335 or 2536291.

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