The radiance visible on the countenances of Shamsudheen, Krishnakumari, Siddharth and five other kidney patients who have been undergoing dialysis at the Red Crescent Hospital at Feroke Chungam seems to be quite unusual among patients who are dependent on life-saving machines.
The Beypore Mandalam Development Charitable Trust has changed the course of their lives in such a radical fashion that these ailing people now need not bother about the expenses for their treatment.
Shamsudheen, an activist of the Indian Union Muslim League, who has been undergoing dialysis at the hospital thrice a week since July 2012, has rich words of praise for the the trust and its work.
“I had undergone dialysis at two hospitals before I reached here.
The trust is looking after all my expenses here and it is indeed a great service,” he said.
“I was really worried about the surging expenses while undergoing dialysis at three other centres.
The trust has saved me and my family,” said Krishnakumari.
Gangadharan master, convener of the trust and CPM Kallayi area committee member, said that people of the constituency have been extending all kinds of monetary support for this philanthropic mission.
“Last year we had kept 11,500 boxes at houses and shops in the constituency and asked people to deposit `1 a day.
From January 26 to May 6, 2012, we got a collection of `15,33,000 which has been used for the treatment of kidney patients, and for conducting awareness classes and medical camps.
The average expenses for the dialysis of a kidney patient would be about `1,75,000,” he said.
The profit from the Beypore festival held every December has also been used for the functioning of the dialysis unit, he added.
The doors of Red Crescent have been open for this humanitarian mission since August 14, 2010.
The initiative, launched with three machines and 12 cases a day has now spread wings, with eight machines and 24 cases a day.
“More machines will be added to the unit soon,” Eldhose, dialysis technician who is in-charge of the unit told Express.
“All machines were sponsored by the trust,” he added.
A 12-member committee chaired by ex-MLA V K C Mammed Koya and Beypore MLA Elamaram Kareem as the patron is steering the activities of the trust.
“We are struggling to meet the demands of a large number of patients.
Many have registered in advance.
However, recently the trust has received land worth `3 crore at Nallalam as donation to set up a hospital exclusively for kidney treatment.
With the launch of this centre we hope to provide free treatment to all patients in the region.
The trust has also plans to provide financial assistance to people belonging to the lowest rung of the social ladder who are suffering from severe chronic diseases,” said Gangadharan