Ahmedabad Diocese launches Kidney Foundation with medical awareness camp

Indian Malankara Orthodox Church – 23/12/12
Liju Cherian

AHMEDABAD/India — Ahmedabad Diocese under HG Pulikkottil Dr Geevarghese Mar Yulios has launched the Diocesan level programmes of Kidney Foundation which was inaugurated with a kidney health awareness programme and camp on December 9, 2012. The programme was organised at Mar Gregorios Orthodox Valyapally, Baroda at 10.30 am.

The Holy Episcopal Synod of the Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Church had decided to start a Kidney Foundation to serve the Indian Orthodox Community with awareness and preventive programmes for kidney and related ailments.

Hence Ahmedabad Diocese also decided to have a Diocesan-level Committee to organise and coordinate these programmes.
HG Dr Geevarghese Mar Yulios has in a Bull # 73/2012 dated December 5, 2012 stated that the Ahmedabad Diocesan Council and the meeting of the clergy entrusted the charge to Rev Fr Varghese Thomas, Vicar of Mar Gregorios Orthodox Valyapally, Baroda, with the direct inspection of the Diocesan Council.

Roy Abraham from Bengaluru and Dr Georgi Abraham from Chennai Medical Mission Hospital along with a team of specialised doctors in kidney, clinical and paramedical participated in the launch programme with a full-day medical camp.

The Metropolitan has urged the Diocese vicars and church committees to take the issue seriously and conduct awareness and prevention programmes at all parishes as soon as possible in consultation with Diocesan Kidney Foundation Committee.

The Bull further notes that almost 250 thousand people die of kidney failure in India every year and is the third largest killer after malignancy and heart disease.

Millions suffer from some form of kidney disease and many of them, particularly in India cannot afford the cost of treatment or care. A person suffering from kidney failure can survive only when he or she undergoes dialysis or kidney transplantation.