Awarded For Serving The Underprivileged

The Renny Abraham TANKER Foundation Love for Service Award for a medical doctor who has gone beyond the call of duty in serving the underprivileged is being awarded to Dr. V. S. Natarajan, M.D., M.R.C.P. (U.K)., FRCP(Edin), D.Sc.(Hon), Chennai. 

He is the father of Geriatric Medicine who has given a lease of life to the aged and needy. The award will carry a cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000/-, a citation and a gold medallion. The Chief Guest Mr. Mike Nithavriyanakis, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Chennai  presented the Award to Dr. V. S. Natarajan. 

The award was given during the 19^th Annual Charity and Awards Nite of TANKER Foundation, which took place on  Wednesday, 25^th January 2012 at  Hotel Savera. Tamilnad Kidney Research Foundation completed 18 years of service towards the underprivileged with kidney ailments. With your help, we have fought the fight against kidney failure with contributions to healthcare, research, training and advocacy connected to the disease.   

TANKER has provided 95,368 free and subsidized dialysis for 720 patients. They have also provided financial support of up to Rs. 72.59 Lakhs to 1304 patients as one-time contributions ranging from Rs. 5,000/- to Rs. 50,000/- for transplantation, medication, investigation and fistula surgery costs. They have three subsidized dialysis units with a total of 27 Dialysis Stations. The first was opened in Kilpauk (Chennai) and the other two are in Ambattur Rotary Hospital (Chennai) and TVS Hospital, Chokkikulam (Madurai). 

At present, there are 189 patients in their  dialysis facilities. The  HIV Dialysis Unit at Kilpauk provides dialysis to underprivileged HIV patients and is the first of its kind in India. Apart from helping  patients, spreading the word about kidney disease is equally important. TANKER Foundation has reached out to more than 40,000 people with the 200 Awareness Programmes, conducted at schools, colleges, law enforcement offices and public forums. 

As the field of research about kidney diseases is lacking enthusiasm and guidance in India TANKER also gives awards for research into Nephrology and service to the tune of Rs. 5 lakhs every year.