The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Stars at Arthritis Day function

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 17, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Stars at Arthritis Day function

Staff Reporter

The outreach programme lays stress on awareness and prevention

CHENNAI : For over three hours the other day, 63-year-old Saroja Sadasivam was inching her way ahead among a jostling mass of Deepavali shoppers at two of T. Nagar's most crowded textile outlets.

While it is remarkable for any woman of her age to venture into the city's hyperzone in the grip of the festival frenzy and all alone at that, what this woman exemplifies is an inspiring turnaround from the totally bed-confined arthritis patient that she was about a year ago.

At the World Arthritis Day celebration organised recently by Soundarapandian Bone and Joint Hospital, Saroja symbolised hope for millions of arthritis-ridden patients whose cause the WHO is highlighting through a `Take Action' campaign across the globe.

Along with her, patients like Uma Shekhar and Kanagam also turned up to narrate their experiences. These women were real stars of the function, which had a celebrity line-up including actors Ramesh Khanna, Bosskey and Tejasree, athlete Shiny Wilson and former hockey player Charles Cornelius.

The campaign is focussing on awareness and prevention as much as early detection and treatment. "Understanding of the problem is essential for people to take corrective or preventive action," said S. Soundarapandian, founder of the hospital. "Many people become less active when they develop arthritis because of the pain as also the fear of damage," said Siva Murugan, consultant orthopaedic surgeon. Ravi Subramanian, orthopaedic surgeon, also participated.

Soundarapandian Hospital organised the event as part of an outreach programme to raise awareness of arthritis.

The hospital at 16, third Main Road, Anna Nagar, can be contacted on 26211026.

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