'Mission hope' by medical students spreads smile among less privileged

While most of the students of professional courses confine themselves to studies, students of K S Hegde Medical College, Deralakatte, have set a noble trend by providing the less privileged with the essential needs of life.

‘Mission Hope’ is a group formed by the medical students of the college, which has been striving on to bring about a positive social change. By coining the slogan ‘What’s Mine is Also Yours’, the organisation took to a start during the International Kite Festival at Panambur beach on January 16 last year.

Awareness programmes

In its beginning days, the Mission Hope organised awareness programmes against drug addiction. But, the creating of awareness alone is not sufficient, the group members thought. Hence, the group decided to carry out more meaningful endeavour in this regard and the plan was materialised soon.

In a couple of months, they were able to start an organisation of their own, with the guidance of the chancellor and dean of Nitte University and Mission Hope was started on April 16.

Overwhelming response

The organisation started to collect items such as books, schoolbags, toys, pens and pencils in the hostel, college, ­administrative office and hospital premises. An overwhelming response was received as the donours contributed around 500 kg of cloth in a month. Along with the students and staff of the college, employees of the Father Muller Homeopathy Hospital too joined hands in gathering the items.

Around 30 volunteers from Mission Hope have actively involved themselves in the mission.

Dr Rachana and Dr Siddharth of Kshema have been encouraging the students. Nitte University Vice Chancellor Dr Ramanand took part in a programme of distributing cloth to the daily wage labourers which was held on Saturday and said that doctors must always stress upon humanitarian aspect. This will take them to greater heights in their career.

Kshema Dean Dr Sathish Kumar Bhandary said that Rs 1.5 lakh collected by Mission Hope will be utilised towards the betterment of cancer patients. Mission Hope members Junaid Anwar, Deepu Suresh, Abhijith Shankar, Pallavi Mehender, Ajish George, Aishwarya Girish and Indu Kurup were present.