JOIN US Sparsh Foundation, on Monday, launched Sparsh Vachana-2012, an annual initiative under which 200 children with complex musculoskeletal deformities will be operated free of cost at the Sparsh hospital, Narayana Health City.
Children in the age group of 1-15 years, a majority of them from Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu will be operated under the programme.
Sharan Shivaraj Patil, chairperson and chief orthopedic surgeon, Sparsh Hospital, said it was heartening to see the efforts of the past last (three) years bear fruit.
Stating that the foundation had selected children with extremely challenging musculoskeletal conditions which need great attention, Patil said: “This is a unique programme with surgeons from across the world operating on children coming from the most humble backgrounds without any expectation.”
Approximately over 3,500 children have been screened till date and more than 1,000 surgical procedures have been performed on the children. The Foundation has spent Rs 1.25 crore per year on this initiative over the last three years.
“Sparsh Vachana has been a resounding success with 70 per cent of the children undergoing multiple procedures. All the surgical procedures done subsequently were also carried out free of cost,” the Foundation said.
Patil said the Foundation, with the help of a few other hospitals, wishes to extend the initiative to other parts of the country from the coming year. Subroto Bagchi, chairpreson of Mindtree was also present. for the programme.