Balaji Medical and Educational Trust
| Chronic Kidney Failure is one of the Deadliest disease. Yet, it is least understood. |
 |
| Dr.Rajan Ravichandran MD,MNAMS,FRCP(Edin),FACP(USA) Nephrologist |
|
About The Trust
The Balaji Medical and Educational Trust was set up in November 1997 in Chennai with a view to
help kidney failure patients and their families.
First of all, kidney problems are not easily detected in time and even after they are detected, the
treatment is very expensive, unaffordable by most. To add to this woes, the patient and his/her family
are bombarded with all sorts of myths and half-truths. By the end of it, the patient and his family are
fatigued, confused and depressed.
Realising the enormity of the complex problems, and the urgency with which it has to be tackled,
Dr.Rajan Ravichandran, Nephrologist , who has been treating kidney failure patients for the last 2
decades decided to help the patients and their families in whatever other ways it could be.
Thanks to the munificence of the patients of the doctor, the Trust was able to collect enough funds to
buy a haemodialysis machine worth Rs. 5 lakhs on which some economically-weak patients were put.
This was but a beginning. As of now the Trust has 5 dialysis machines which is used to provide
concessional dialysis to patients.
Given the high cost of renal transplantation, only a minority of those suffering from kidney failure in
India can afford it. Dialysis is also beyond the means of many. Under the circumstances, though the
Trust will try to reach out to as many renal failure patients as possible, Dr. Rajan Ravichandran
realises that prevention of renal disease assumes overriding importance. In many cases, the simple
checking of the urine for albumin and blood for urea and creatinine estimations can alert to the
possibility of a kidney failure.
Thus, to diagnose early kidney problems among the unsuspecting populace, the Trust has been
holding 'Nephrology Camps', in and around Chennai. These camps were also intended to spread
awareness about kidney diseases.
These Nephrology camps covers only a very small segment of people. Therefore the trust has
embarked on a wide awareness program on the prevention of kidney diseases code named as
" Early Disease Programme". This was launched on 15th March 2009. It is envisaged to spread the
message on prevention by mass media viz. print media, audio/visual media, electronic media and
movies. As per WHO estimates, India is world capital for Diabetes and this will continue to increase.
Hypertension is also spread to a similar extent. These two problems alone will create an enormous
number of people having renal problems. The life after kidney failure cannot be a satisfactory and
that too at a very high cost. Therefore the trusts focus will be totally on prevention of Kidney diseases
along with the intervention and monitoring aspects.
Keeping in view of the foregoing, the trust has launched on 30th Sep 2009 a unique health website
named www.sugarbp.org. The aim is to spread the message that a good care of diabetes and
hypertension could positively prevent them from renal problems. Posters of this website as given
below is being spread by every available mass media for benefit of common people.
Appeal
To spread the message of Early Disease Programme, to every nook and corner of the Indian
population and thereafter world population, requires enormous support of organisations and financial
big wigs. This will also include powerful media barons. The Trust welcomes support of any kind. The
financial donations to the trust are eligible for deductions under sec. 80G of IT act. The trust is
approved by Government of India to receive foreign contribution under FCRA 1976.
The Balaji Medical and Educational Trust was set up in November 1997 in Chennai with a view to
help kidney failure patients and their families.
First of all, kidney problems are not easily detected in time and even after they are detected, the
treatment is very expensive, unaffordable by most. To add to this woes, the patient and his/her family
are bombarded with all sorts of myths and half-truths. By the end of it, the patient and his family are
fatigued, confused and depressed.
Realising the enormity of the complex problems, and the urgency with which it has to be tackled,
Dr.Rajan Ravichandran, Nephrologist , who has been treating kidney failure patients for the last 2
decades decided to help the patients and their families in whatever other ways it could be.
Thanks to the munificence of the patients of the doctor, the Trust was able to collect enough funds to
buy a haemodialysis machine worth Rs. 5 lakhs on which some economically-weak patients were put.
This was but a beginning. As of now the Trust has 5 dialysis machines which is used to provide
concessional dialysis to patients.
Given the high cost of renal transplantation, only a minority of those suffering from kidney failure in
India can afford it. Dialysis is also beyond the means of many. Under the circumstances, though the
Trust will try to reach out to as many renal failure patients as possible, Dr. Rajan Ravichandran
realises that prevention of renal disease assumes overriding importance. In many cases, the simple
checking of the urine for albumin and blood for urea and creatinine estimations can alert to the
possibility of a kidney failure.
Thus, to diagnose early kidney problems among the unsuspecting populace, the Trust has been
holding 'Nephrology Camps', in and around Chennai. These camps were also intended to spread
awareness about kidney diseases.
These Nephrology camps covers only a very small segment of people. Therefore the trust has
embarked on a wide awareness program on the prevention of kidney diseases code named as
" Early Disease Programme". This was launched on 15th March 2009. It is envisaged to spread the
message on prevention by mass media viz. print media, audio/visual media, electronic media and
movies. As per WHO estimates, India is world capital for Diabetes and this will continue to increase.
Hypertension is also spread to a similar extent. These two problems alone will create an enormous
number of people having renal problems. The life after kidney failure cannot be a satisfactory and
that too at a very high cost. Therefore the trusts focus will be totally on prevention of Kidney diseases
along with the intervention and monitoring aspects.
Keeping in view of the foregoing, the trust has launched on 30th Sep 2009 a unique health website
named www.sugarbp.org. The aim is to spread the message that a good care of diabetes and
hypertension could positively prevent them from renal problems. Posters of this website as given
below is being spread by every available mass media for benefit of common people.
Appeal
To spread the message of Early Disease Programme, to every nook and corner of the Indian
population and thereafter world population, requires enormous support of organisations and financial
big wigs. This will also include powerful media barons. The Trust welcomes support of any kind. The
financial donations to the trust are eligible for deductions under sec. 80G of IT act. The trust is
approved by Government of India to receive foreign contribution under FCRA 1976.
