Glory Award To GKNM Dean
Rotary District 3200 Governor L. Narayanaswamy (second right) presenting to Dean of G. Kuppuswamy Naidu Memorial Hospital Ramkumar Raghupathy (second left) a citation as part of the Pinnacle of Glory Award conferred on the Valavadi Narayanaswamy Cancer Centre of the hospital in the city on Thursday. From left: Rotary Project Director Gurdeep Singh Anand, past Rotary District Governor A. Muruganathan (third left) and Director of the Cancer Centre T. Balaji (right) are in the picture. All the Rotary Clubs in Coimbatore should team up to build a Rotary multi-speciality hospital, Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Chapter of the Association of Physicians of India A. Muruganathan said here on Thursday. Pointing out the Rotary’s contribution to healthcare so far, the former Rotary District 3200 Governor made a fervent call to the clubs to play a greater role in this area.
He was addressing a function got up by 23 Rotary Clubs in the district to confer the Pinnacle of Glory Award on the Valavadi Narayanaswamy Cancer Centre of the G. Kuppuswamy Naidu Memorial (GKNM) Hospital. “Before we disperse after this function, you must discuss how to go about with the proposal,” he said. Dr. Muruganathan suggested that the Rotary clubs could adopt a cancer ward now, work on cancer insurance and sponsor equipment for cancer care.
The Rotary could also step up campaign against tobacco and sensitise people to the need for early detection of cancer. Praising the cancer centre for 50 years of service, he said it deserved the award and this was evident in the fact that 23 Rotary Clubs had come together for the first time here to honour an institution. Dr. Muruganathan recalled how the hospital began its service to the people of this region through heart care and cancer treatment.
He cited the case of patients whom he had referred to the hospital. He made a specific reference to the contributions of cancer specialist Leela Meenakshi from the time of the opening of the cancer centre. Apart from treatment, she provided tremendous comfort to patients and their families. Stating that studies revealed high incidence of cancer, Rotary District 3200 Governor L. Narayanaswamy stressed good medical and palliative care. The cancer centre began its service to the affected people at a time when the world had not found a cure for the disease. Mr. Narayanaswamy said the centre had done a huge service to the cancer-affected and richly deserved the award.
Rotary Project Director Gurdeep Singh Anand said the centre deserved the award for both treatment and generating awareness on the causes and prevention of the disease. The award came at a time when the centre had completed 50 years of service. Mr. Anand made a presentation on the centre to explain why it was chosen for the award. Consultant Physician G. Lakshmipathi described the hospital as a role model institution in serving the people. In his acceptance speech, Dean of the hospital Ramkumar Raghupathy traced the journey of the cancer centre from a small X-ray unit 50 years ago to one with a modern linear accelerator equipment now.
Dr. Raghupathy thanked the Rotary clubs for the award and observed that it was a great recognition for the hospital. He dedicated it to a vision of the hospital and centre’s founders and the hard work of many people over the years. Dr. Raghupathy said equipment worth Rs.44 lakh had arrived from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for establishing telemedicine facilities at it rural health centres at Anaikatti and Veerapandi in the district. The hospital had announced a month ago its telemedicine project in a tie-up with ISRO, while listing various events it planned to conduct to mark the Golden Jubilee of the cancer centre.
