New haemodialysis machines for the Greater Chennai Corporation RCME TANKER Foundation Dialysis Unit

Almost 2.5 lakh people die of kidney failure in India every year. It is the third largest killer after malignancy and heart disease. One in 10 people in the world suffer from some form of kidney disease and many of them, particularly in India cannot afford the cost of treatment or care. Around 14440 people get kidney failure every year in Tamilnadu alone, and only 10% have access to treatment.

TANKER (Tamilnad Kidney Research) Foundation is a registered non-profit charitable Organization started in June 1993 with the aim of helping under-privileged patients with kidney disease by giving Subsidized Dialysis and one time financial help for medication, investigation and transplantation and spread awareness about kidney disease. TANKER runs 14 dialysis units, 11 in Chennai and one each in Madurai, Vellore and Tiruppur. The Valluvarkottam unit is supported by the Greater Chennai Corporation, Rotary Club of Madras East and other valuable donors.

The 2 dialysis machines donated by M/s. Avant- Garde Systems and Controls Pvt Ltd and  Mr. K. Ragothaman & Mrs. Usha Ragothaman for the positive wing of the dialysis unit were inaugurated by Dr. Ezhilan Naganathan, MLA, Thousand Lights and Mr. K. Ragothaman, Director, Mr. S. Balasubramanian, Director and Mr. P. S. Sankaranarayanan, Director M/s. Avant- Garde Systems and Controls Pvt Ltd. The bedsheets donated by Rotary Club of Coastal Chennai were handed over by President Mrs.Latha Balamukundan.

Dr Ezilan, MLA Thousand Lights said that the Public Private and NGO partnership with TANKER foundation was working well in this first diagnostic centre set up in Valluvarkottam.He was looking forward to a long-term relationship and appreciated the efforts of TANKER Foundation.Mr. K. Ragothaman said that they were happy to support TANKER  through their CSR .Mr. S. Balasubramanian who spontaneously donated 2 Air Conditioners during the event and Mr. P. S. Sankaranarayanan and Thousand Lights Councillor Ms.Prema Suresh were present.

Mrs Latha Kumaraswami, Managing Trustee of  TANKER Foundation, gave an update on TANKER’s activities. She said that   since inception in 1993, almost 5.7 Lakhs dialysis have been carried out so far for over 2,588 patients, and Rs. 4 crores have been provided as assistance to 4880 people for medication, investigation and surgery costs. At present, 851 patients were benefitting through TANKER's 14 dialysis units. Almost 2 lakh people have been reached out to through the awareness programmes, and 38,428 people had been screened for kidney disease. She was grateful to the TANKER Angels on Earth as TANKER's dedicated staff are referred to, CMCHIS ,  GCC, Rotary, Freemasons, Corporate donors, and individual donors.