The first phase of fund collection drive as part of the Snehasparsam project of the Kidney Patients Welfare Society under the Kozhikode district panchayat was held all over the district on Saturday under the aegis of the local bodies, Kudumbasree as well as voluntary organisations.
Snehasparsam volunteers visited each household in the district and collected the money that was promised earlier. Around 40,000 volunteers took part in the fund collection drive in Kozhikode Corporation, Koyilandy Municipality, and 41 grama panchayats in Meladi, Panthalayani, Chelannur, Balusseri, Kunnamangalam, Koduvally and Kozhikode blocks.
The Snehasparsam project that began two years ago has been a great help to people suffering from kidney diseases in the district and lacked the funds to take up treatment. As part of the project, more than 700 patients get a monthly aid of Rs.2,500 each for dialysis. Snehasparsam also provides Rs.3,000 for peritoneal dialysis and helps those who have undergone kidney transplantation with medicines worth Rs.3,000 per month. Dialysis units have been set up at Kozhikode Medical College as well as Kuttiady Taluk Hospital as part of the project.
Besides kidney patients, Snehasparsam also aids mentally challenged persons and promotes organ donation in the district. A mobile clinic to detect life style diseases is also operational as part of the project. As a result of successful operations for the last two years, Snehasparsam had been able to distribute help worth Rs.3 crore to needy patients. It is well supported by schools, religious institutions, business houses, Kudumbasree, local bodies and residents associations.
The Kidney Patients Welfare Society is being headed by district panchayat president Kanathil Jameela and District Collector C.A.Latha.
