Friends of SVIMS bid adieu after two decades matchless service

Tirupati: The `Friends of SVIMS’ which was popular in the pilgrim city for its yeomen services to the patients of SVIMS hospital and its development had at last bid adieu due to some operational difficulties after a two decade long great service. ``The struggle SVIMS faced in its initial stage, particularly shortage of staff prodded a group of senior citizens here to form in to `Friends of SVIMS Society (FSS)’ to extend the much needed help to SVIMS the only super specialty hospital in the backward Rayalaseema region to stand up for the sake of patients.

It is amazing that FSS ensured a band of senior citizens deputed daily at SVIMS outpatients (OP) block for the assistance of the patients since its inception in 1997 to its closure in October 2016, with no break. The society did not stop helping and guiding the patients in OP block but engaged itself in a wide range of activities supporting SVIMS and relentless acting as a catalyst for the growth of the hospital as the biggest in the region serving scores of poor patients.

The main objective behind setting up FSS society was to assist the administration of SVIMS in organising the out-patient clinics of the institution by assisting the illiterate coming to the hospital to fill up the required registration forms, help them through the various formalities to be attended to and guide them through the various department and facilities of SVIMS. The senior citizens in rotation were engaged in this activity ever since 1997 without a break, to hundreds of patients who throng SVIMS daily which proved pivotal in the context of OP patients daily ranging from 1000-1200 apart from 820 bed strength.

Thanks to the zeal and service motive of its members the society extended its services and took up other activities including distribution of free medicines, concessional diagnostic services, publish books, monographs and health education booklets concerning various diseases for the benefit of the public. It also had assisted the SVIMS management in organising free clinics on Sundays supplying tokens, tea and biscuits to the patients and also helped SVIMS conduct monthly epilepsy camp, juvenile diabetes clinic, for the benefit of youngsters below 18 years of age, awareness camps on cancer, hypertension, valve replacement and swine flu and also provided facilities and equipment to SVIMS.

Sharing the society’s memorable experiences of nearly two decades, one of the founders and president K Rami Reddy said as many as 211 monthly special camps were conducted uninterruptedly since 1997, for epilepsy patients. The monthly camp was conducted jointly by SVIMS, Indian Epilepsy Association (EPA) and Americares USA and India, a charitable organisation based in USA and Mumbai. Medicines worth Rs 1.93 crore were distributed to patients free of cost with generous donations from public was the foremost among the FSS service activities.

While the long list of facilities and equipment provided by the society to SVIMS include higher end dialysis machine, digital EEG machine, two water coolers, two sets of locker units and also distribution of insulin, glucometres and gluco strips free of cost to youngsters attending juvenile diabetes health camp. ``We are no more able to run FSS as we are all eighty plus, much aged feeling difficult in complying with the rules and regulations of society’s act and also running the activities on daily basis.

It is really very regrettable for us to close FSS but it is inevitable ’’ he said giving the reason behind FSS graceful exit. Pattammala 80-year-old woman diabetes patient said “the OP which is always full with patients from various places baffled me. But, the FSS members made my weekly checkup and consultation smooth. It is indeed sad that my long association as a patient with FSS is ending”, she said admiring the services of FSS.
SVIMS PRO Y Venkatrami Reddy said FSS had become a part and parcel of SVIMS with 5-10 of its members daily extending selfless service to the patients at the OP block and guiding them with care.

It also catered to the poor patient needs including feeds and liquid enteral feed supplementation, to cancer patients and to those who are fed through Ryles Tube, he said recalling the illustrious role of FSS. Reddy said though FSS wound up, some its members at the request of SVIMS director TS Ravi Kumar decided to continue the services under SVIMS Service Society (SSS). He hoped that in the coming days SSS by including youngsters will extend services to SVIMS to continue the legacy of FSS.

Interestingly, the FSS as a parting and final gift donated from its balance amount, Rs 19.3 lakh to Sri Venkateswara Pranadanam Trust and also Rs 12,76,360 to Prime Minister Relief Fund before dissolving FSS, utilising its entire fund for good causes, before merging in to history.

By G Sridhar