The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Chipping in for a noble cause

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 08, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Chipping in for a noble cause

Staff Reporter

Philanthropists do their bit to serve cancer patients at MNJ Cancer Hospital

PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU

SERVICE-MINDED: Baburao distributing rice and milk at the MNJ Cancer Hospital.

HYDERABAD: Outpatients and attendants scattered about the premises of the MNJ Cancer Hospital train themselves into a queue once the clock strikes five every evening.

That is when each person with an outpatient identification is given quarter-kilogram of rice, three scoopfuls of curds and a milk packet. Having got their ration for the evening, the patient’s attendants proceed to the kitchen in the back of the hospital to cook their broth on any of the 13 burners. The procedure repeats around 7.30 a.m. too, with slight changes in the list of provisions.

However, the service does not result from a sole instance of philanthropy. Rice, curds and gas are provided by A. Baburao, the owner of nearby Niloufer Café, while Pavani Seva Samithi distributes vegetables, milk, fruits and eggs.

Stoves are courtesy the community kitchen idea of HP Gas Company and the actual kitchen that houses them was built by the hospital.

“Two years ago HP Gas Company offered to provide stoves and cylinders and asked for Rs.5 to be paid as user charges. I offered to maintain the kitchen by employing two attendants. Later on, I began paying for the gas too,” said Mr. Baburao.

To put the kitchen to the best of its use, he started providing rice, vegetables and curds. Pavani Seva Samithi has been contributing for the past six months.

“Cancer patients put to radium therapy need protein diet for quick recovery. But they are discharged by the hospital immediately after the therapy for lack of beds and have nowhere to go. We give provisions to them through their stay in the city,” says Sambi Reddy, a farmer and the man behind the organisation. He has plans to provide cooked food from his kitchen at Shamirpet.

The hospital authorities too do not lag behind in terms of service.

“A proposal to construct shelter for outpatients and their attendants is in the offing,” says T.Mandapal, Director of the Institute.

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

Andhra Pradesh