Pics: Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)

Mangaluru, Sep 23: Eleven ventilators worth Rs 1 crore were handed over to the district's Wenlock Hospital by BEL on Friday September 23. The handing over ceremony was held at the RAPCC building of the hospital.

The director (HR) of Bharath Electronics Limited (BEL), Dr M L Shanmukh handed over the units to the superintendent of the hospital Dr Rajeshwari Devi, while veteran orthopaedic surgeon Dr Shantharam Shetty inaugurated the programme. 

"This district hospital serves people of seven districts including Kasargod district, Kerala free of cost and hence is a famous government hospital in the state. The main reason for this is the cleanliness which is on par with private hospitals and the dedication of the doctors and the staff. This is something that drove us to help the hospital in its noble deed."

Speaking about the socially oriented programmes of BEL, he said, "Even though we are part of the union government, we reserve Rs 28-30 crore towards socially oriented programmes across the country every year. We want to reach the poorest of the poor and share our profit with them. We have handed over these facilities because the poorest of the poor will benefit from this."

Speaking on the occasion Dr Shantharam Shetty said, "I have worked for about 35-40 years at this hospital and the joy I get when a poor man says to me that I had treated him many years ago cannot be explained in words. This hospital is not famous for its buildings nor the machines, but for the dedicated service of the doctors and the staff."

Former deputy speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly Yogish Bhat, directors of BEL, Natraj Krishnappa, Veeresh D, president of the city's Lions Club Valencia, Lioness Sumalatha Suvarna, Lion Naveenchandra Suvarna and others were present.

The donation was co-ordinated by Lions Club Valencia in the city.