Indian Orthodox Church in Muscat Launch Charity Projects
Liju Cherian
The Indian Orthodox Malankara Church in Muscat – July 2014
Muscat Indian Orthodox parish launches charity project in aid of kidney patients aid of kidney patients
MUSCAT, Oman: Muscat Mar Gregorios Orthodox Maha Edavaka (MGOME) of the Indian Orthodox Church, has launched its popular charity project for 2014-15 in aid of kidney patients.
Called the ‘Rays of Hope’ under the popular Thanal (meaning tree shade) project, the project strives to help the needy kidney patients who require urgent dialysis or transplantation of the organ.
The project was launched by Vicar/President of MGOME Fr Joji George Koickalethu in the presence of members of the executive managing committee and parishioners last week.
The word Thanal in Malayalam language means to provide shade like in a tree which colloquially means to help the less privileged and distressed.
Dr Josephkunju Mathew, Consultant Urologist at the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), College of Medicine and Health Sciences, as chief guest provided an insight about the symptoms of the silent disease and urged for people to donate kidneys.
“Kidney donation is a gift of love and life after death can be made useful if it is registered through online and other reliable methods,” Dr Joseph said adding that the Indian youth were the prime target of the illness. He praised the initiative of the Maha Edavaka towards taking up the noble cause of kidney patients and wished all success for the project. Dr Joseph also thanked MGOME for providing him an opportunity to visit and termed the title for the project (Thanal) as excellent which will attract one and all.
Fr Joji George in his speech pointed that though dialysis is a solution to save the patients, it was costly and out of reach for most common people. The Vicar urged the cooperation, support, and love of its members and to contribute generously to make the project a success like during the previous projects. The Vicar requested the members to contribute generously towards this noble cause and make it a success.
Senior parish member and businessman, Geevarghese Yohannan, made the maiden contribution to the project by contributing an amount of 3 lakh IRS for six patients. He presented the cheque to the vicar who in turn passed it on to the parish trustee.
The project had over the years involved with other praise worthy projects namely helping cancer patients, build home for the homeless and married poor girls.
Among those present included Fr Varghese George, Executive Members Jacobs Kuriakose, Mathew K Abraham, Diocesan Council member Mammen George and Orthodox Sabha Managing Committee member P K Koshy. Secretary John P Luke proposed a vote of thanks.
Those willing to participate in the project can do by sponsoring a patient for dialysis by donating Indian Rupees (IRS) 50,000, or partly supporting a patient for renal transplant or donating IRS 1 lakh.
More details can be obtained from the parish Vicar on
E mail: mgocmct@omantel.net.om, Phone: +968-24702606,
Fax: +968-24790811
Source:
Independent
