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Lions Club thanks child heart surgery sponsors
2006-07-24 09:21:27
By Lydia Shekighenda and Christine Chisha
The Lions Club yesterday organised a thanksgiving ceremony for people who sponsored 22 children for heart surgery in India early this year.
The children, who were jointly sponsored by the Lions Club of Dar es Salaam, Regency Medical Centre and the Rodney Mutie Mengi Foundation, came back in batches, bringing to 100 the number of patients sponsored for surgery at the Narayana Hrudayala Heart Institute in Bangalore, India, by the three philanthropists.
District Officer of Medical Camps and Convener of Heart Surgery Project, Dr Rajni Kanabar, said yesterday that the Lions Club of Dar es Salaam in collaboration with Regency Medical Centre had achieved this year’s target of 100 free heart surgeries.
’’The amount of money used for the treatment of the 100 patients who underwent heart operation is US$650,000,” Dr Kanabar said.
He thanked IPP Chairman Reginald Mengi who sponsored 10 heart patients, which included money for four patients who needed replacement of valves.
Kanabar said the total contribution for the 10 children in including the cost of four valves came to 23.75m/-
He said US based Dr Kiran Patel, a cardiologist, intends to set up two cardiac centres – one satellite centre in Dar es Salaam and the main one in Moshi – in collaboration with Rodney Mutie Mengi Foundation and the Lions Club of Dar es Salaam.
Kanabar said consultants from India are expected to arrive in the country in the first week of next month to asses the site in Dar-es-Salaam and Moshi to enable them to design cardiac hospitals and making feasibility of the cardiac centres.
He thanked Rose Mary, a nurse at Regency Medical Centre, who accompanied the children and looked after the 22 children and their parents during their recuperation period.
Kanabar also thanked an anonymous donor for financing six children, Mohamed Punjani who sponsored four children, Reach Group for sponsoring one child and Rozy Kanabar and Pallavi Davda for praying for the children at the airport.
Dr Kanabar named other donors as Mohamed Dewji, Shiraz Rashid, India High Commissioner, Ministry of Health and Jumbo Travel.
Dr Kanabar said Lions Club of Dar es Salaam received an Oscar Academy Award for its outstanding contribution in helping children with heart problems.
He added that Dr Kiran Patel also received an Oscar Academy Award from Lions International Convention in Boston in the US.
Speaking at the same event, the IPP chairman appealed to Tanzanians with financial resources to help the needy.
Mengi said God did not give them such resources to be boastful, but to help people.
’’We should not be proud or boastful, but share with the needy in society, especially the vulnerable group,’’ Mengi said.
’’The holy books (Bible and Qur’an) teach us that everything in the world is God’s property and we shall leave them when we die. Thus let’s try our best to help other people,’’ he appealed.
He said followers of any religion should demonstrate their faith by helping those who are in need, adding: ’’On the judgement day, God will not ask you how much wealth you accumulated, but how much you helped the needy.’’
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