Mahavir International (MI) apex vice-president Ashok Kumar Jain on Monday announced that they would launch a regular clinic in the city to serve the poor free of cost.
MI, a philanthropic organisation with 350 branches across the country and plans to open 100 more, at present operates a clinic on Sundays at Jain Dadabadi near the Collectorate. “We will convert it into a regular clinic shortly,” he said.
After participating in a medical camp conducted by CONCOR in association with MI at the Container Freight Station in Old Town area, he said they would launch a mobile eye clinic to bring patients from various areas in the district to the city for better care.
MI has tied up with various eye hospitals in the city to perform cataract and other procedures.
The organisation will spend around Rs.20 to Rs.25 lakh on procuring a van and equipment.
Mr. Jain, who is an independent director in RINL, said MI had plans to introduce ‘doctors at doorstep’ programme in the city. The van will go to three to four places every week to conduct camps.
He said they had spent over Rs.10 crore on service activities during 2013-14.
There are plans to spend over Rs.15 crore during next financial year with contributions from members and public sectors like NTPC, SAIL, GAIL and CONCOR.
Mr. Jain promised that on the lines of the project undertaken by them in Delhi, they would also conduct eye check-up camps regularly in Visakhapatnam.
Earlier, Commissioner of Police B. Shivadhar Reddy inaugurated the camp and pointed out how many drivers were not aware of their ophthalmic problems. Around 400 people attended the Monday’s camp.
CONCOR Group General Manager R. Dhananjayalu, Senior GM G.R. Seshagiri Rao, MI city unit chairman H.M. Choksi and secretary Pannalal Bhansali were present.
