Promoting Preventive Health Care

When we took our first steps 20 years ago, we decided to change this scenario for the better in whatever small way we could. We set out to update, upgrade and uplift infrastructure that had deteriorated with neglect. The single most powerful tool we used to initiate this was ‘listening’. We began to fill in the gaps within the system by listening to mothers, the fathers, the patient, their doctors and nurses, the ward boys, the administrators, and the bureaucrats. We sat down in the existing facilities, with the caregivers and the patients in their care. We witnessed their pain. We shared their anguish. We understood their world, and also appreciated how it was different from the rest of us. We cried with them. We laughed with them. We celebrated recoveries, and mourned losses. We followed-up on their treatments, and their progress – not just medically, but in their lives ahead too. 

This complete immersion has given us a palpable empathy that has informed each and every initiative to date. Whether it is advanced medical treatments for individuals, or installing the state-of-the-art medical equipment in government hospitals, or contributing to the salaries of top technicians, doctors, specialists and surgeons. We have kept our ears, and eyes opened, and acted on wherever we saw a gap we could bridge. Our sense of empathy extends beyond just the medical. Within hospital premises, we have created play areas, and reading corners; adding aesthetic touches to their surroundings. We have looked at ways to support the well-being of the caregivers with waiting rooms, water and sanitation facilities, and food. We have gone to great lengths to put in place small things that bring big comfort. We have done the same for doctors, nurses and hospital staff – creating staff rooms with thoughtful facilities that ensure that the ones that care for others, are cared for too. 

We have done all this and more, by inspiring corporates and individuals with our relentless drive to make a difference, with dignity. Pleading for permissions, pleading for implementation of policies, and pleading for funds. 

The pride we feel seeing our beneficiaries rise above their illness and circumstances to realise their full potential is unparalleled. We beam with a sense of contentment and satisfaction when a stranger on a bus recommends us to another stranger seeking help, emphasising that we never let any genuine call for help go unheard.

Another Thalassemia awareness session was held on September 12th, 2022, in the presence of Vice Principal Dr. Asmita Dani and Mrs. Joshi, at Tilak Vidyapeeth was attended by 206 girls and boys.

The Jankalyan Blood Bank team had set up a stall for blood testing at both these colleges, and a total of 268 blood samples were collected.

We are grateful to the Jankalyan Blood Bank for this support and thank like-minded professionals in the medical fraternity for having facilitated these sessions.
Special thanks to Dr. Nita Munshi and Dr. Lisa, who are spearheading these sessions and Yasmin Shaikh from MMF, who has been instrumental in planning, coordination and execution of these sessions.

These sessions were a part of our ongoing efforts to support Thalassemia patients. We also provide medicines and filters pan India on a monthly basis to these patients – a five-year-old initiative, which is a collaboration with The Wishing Factory, Masar, Gujarat; Thalassemia Society of Pune Chapter, Pune; Bharathi Hospital, Pune and the Indian Red Cross, Pune.

More than a hundred patients were identified as having cold/ cough and four children with Cerebral Palsy. Others were identified with orthopaedic issues, and more than 170 patients were screened for diabetes and blood pressure.

In collaboration with Cure India International, a charitable healthcare NGO, we organised a camp on 6th August 2022, at the Institute of Child Health in Egmore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, in the presence of Mr. Balaji and Mr. Anand Kumar from FIL. With this initiative, we are effectively catering to the medical needs of 50 children with clubfoot at these locations across three states to help them and their families lead a dignified life:

• GMERS Medical College and Hospital in Himmatnagar and Dharpur Patan, Gujarat (15 children each)
• Institute of Child Health in Chennai Tamil Nādu (10 Children)
• Government General Hospital in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh (10 Children)

We would like to extend our gratitude to Mrs. Vedula, Ms. Soumya Iyer, Ms. Vidya Farande, and Ms. Smita Patwardhan from Finolex Industries for taking the time to be present at the event.

MMF and FIL have supported several hospitals across India with their infrastructure requirements, training sessions for healthcare professionals, treatment for needy patients, and with state-of-the-art infrastructure.

In collaboration with Inlaks Budhrani Blood Bank, we collected 50 blood bags from B T Shahani School in Pune. We also collected 88 blood bags from Agriculture College in Pune in collaboration with Jankalyan Blood Banks, thereby arranging for a total of 138 blood bags.

Our heartfelt gratitude to the students, faculty, parents, other donors, and our team members who stepped in to support this noble cause.

While the conference focused on case presentations, the short film contest was another highlight which showcased their dramatics, writing, directing, cinematography and editing talents. The overall feedback from the doctors who attended the conference was positive as they noted how well organised it was with ample time for networking.

A total of 290 blood bag units were collected across all locations, and the camp successfully raised awareness about the importance of donating blood at regular intervals. Blood donors at all locations included teachers and parents of students at MMV, FIL employees, family and friends. Each of them were awarded certificates by the respective medical facilities to acknowledge their support of this noble cause.

In 2018, we had added 2 pieces of life-saving medical equipment to the PICU: 

• Nanoduct: A Neonatal Sweat Analysis System that makes reliable laboratory diagnosis of cystic fibrosis in the initial days of life.  
• A Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) system: This is an analytical technique that uses the near-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum to assess the oxygenation of different tissues. 

Since 2008, we have initiated a fellowship grant for interns at the paediatric unit, KEM. On a yearly basis, new interns are recruited by the KEM authorities and part-funded by us. 

A free monthly diabetic screening camp started in 2016 at KEM for children. Monthly blood tests and insulin vials are provided to deserving patients. Sixty camps have been conducted since 2016 supporting 720 patients so far. 

A unique service is provided at the paediatric unit, where MMF has a stationed caregiver to liaise between this unit and MMF management.

Our association with the SGH dates to four years earlier, when we responded to an appeal, with the support of Mr. and Mrs. Janak Dwarkadas, to upgrade the dental unit at the hospital. Thanks to this initiative, on 11th May 2018, SGH became the first government hospital to house a dental laser treatment unit where over 2500 patients have benefited from dental procedures, and over 50 successful and affordable dental implants have been conducted to date.

We realised that families and friends play an instrumental role in providing emotional support to patients undergoing treatments at hospitals. In 2018, MMF, in collaboration with Finolex decided to address their needs and make them comfortable by refurbishing 3 waiting areas equipped with all facilities. We provided them with clean drinking water, lights, charging points, benches to rest, storage spaces, and fans. These areas are continuously supervised by a special attendant deputed by MMF. 

Ongoing support to Sassoon General Hospital continues with essentials like emergency trolley beds, mattresses with bedspreads, pillows, pillowcases, blankets, bedsheets (Solapuri chaddar), and medical essentials in the diabetic unit with monthly glucose strips, and in the labour room providing ongoing consumables.

In collaboration with BJMC, a dedicated neonatologist was appointed by MMF to monitor the well-being of this ward and babies. In 2018, the neonatologist received specialised neurological development training in Mumbai. 

In 2018, on the NICU’s first anniversary, we provided further upgradation with essential medical equipment like an air blender, cold light, and a pulse oximeter to support babies at the golden hour of their birth.