Kochi, Sep 29 : Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited (Chola), the financial services arm of Murugappa Group, Today reiterated its alliance with Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospitals to provide free cardiac treatment and care to children of drivers, cleaners and mechanics of Commercial Heavy Vehicles, from anywhere in the country.
The Company has announced an outlay of Rs 120 lakh in this fiscal 2021-22 towards this noble cause which will help to treat 80 children who are born with congenital heart disease, a release said here on Wednesday.
In the 2020-21 fiscal, Cholamandalam had pledged to support the surgical heart procedures for these children whose ages ranged from new born up to 18 years with a total outlay of INR 120 lakh.
Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Ravindra Kumar Kundu, Executive Director, Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Company Limited said “Yet the lives of truck drivers, cleaners and mechanics are adversely affected by inconveniences, poor facilities, and the absence of empathy.
The stressful and challenging nature of the work adversely influences their physical as well as mental health. This initiative is a small step from our end to bring some relief and help these families enter a better life. On the World Heart Day today and always, we hope and pray for a healthier world.”
As part of the arrangement, Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospitals located in Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Palwal (Haryana) and Kharghar (Maharashtra) provide world class pediatric cardiac care for the children of road transport staff totally free. From diagnostics to open heart surgery, post-operative care, medication, diet…all services will be provided without any charge.
Speaking on the partnership with Chola, Dr. Subramanian Chellappan, Director, Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital (Palwal, Haryana) said, “In India, every year around 2.4 Lakh children are born with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) and this is being one of largest cause of child mortality and the treatment would cost INR 4-5 lakh in private hospitals which is absolutely not affordable to socio-economically backward families like drivers and mechanics.”
“During the COVID Pandemic, children suffering with CHD were vulnerable to both COVID and CHD. While this treatment was unavailable in both Private and Government Hospitals during the Pandemic, Sai Sanjeevani Hospitals continued to offer these life saving surgeries with COVID protocols.”
“We value our partnership with Chola who supported children of trucking community with CHD, in these critical times. From 2019 till September 2021, Chola has given new life to over 150 children whose families have been uplifted financially, socially and emotionally.”
Truck drivers, cleaners or mechanics whose children are suffering from congenital heart disease may approach Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospitals at 8010119000 to avail of the free treatment, the release added.(UNI)