BENGALURU: Narayanappa Pothuru, who used to teach social studies in schools near Ballari, has been confined to his home for some time due to knee problems. The 86-year-old suffers from stage-4 arthritis. “I need double knee replacement,” he said, adding: “I have been facing problems for the last 15 years. My left leg is completely damaged.”
Pothuru will soon be able to set foot out of his home, thanks to Guru Namana, an initiative of SPARSH Foundation, the charitable wing of SPARSH Hospital Group. As a tribute, the drive aims to provide 100 retired school teachers from rural Karnataka free joint-replacement surgeries. Each teacher will be undergoing a joint — either hip or a knee — replacement surgery this month. Five per cent of the beneficiaries are undergoing hip-replacement surgery.
“For me, the biggest scientific advancements mean nothing if they do not reach the common man,” said Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil, founder-chairman of SPARSH Hospital Group.
“We reach out to retired teachers who don’t have access to sophisticated treatment and provide them with solutions to make them independent and pain-free and give them a new lease of life. Hopefully, this will become a movement and more and more hospitals and communities will take this up and help out more people,” he said.
Jeyamma ST, 68, a retired teacher from Davanagere is among those selected for the free surgery. Jeyamma has difficulty with daily tasks. “I can’t cook as I can’t stand for more than ten minutes. I find it difficult to stand and walk after sitting. Getting up from the floor is a challenge,” she said.
Some like Shivapriya Swaminathan, who suffers from grade-4 arthritis, put off surgeries for years because of fear. “While working as a teacher, I’d stand for long hours. I had to run behind kids,” said Swaminathan, who is from Trichy. “Somehow, I’ve managed to overcome my fear. SPARSH doctors are helping us mentally prepare for the surgery,” she added. Swaminathan underwent some tests on Tuesday and is all set for the surgery. “One of her knees will be operated upon as part of the initiative,” said Dr Patil.
Govt mulling free knee
replacement for teachers
Dr Sharan Prakash Patil, medical education minister, said his department is considering offering free knee replacement for teachers. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Guru Namana, Patil said: “SPARSH can take care of the screening and the government will organise a free knee-replacement programme in every district.”
“I will bring this up in the next budget,” he added.
Pothuru will soon be able to set foot out of his home, thanks to Guru Namana, an initiative of SPARSH Foundation, the charitable wing of SPARSH Hospital Group. As a tribute, the drive aims to provide 100 retired school teachers from rural Karnataka free joint-replacement surgeries. Each teacher will be undergoing a joint — either hip or a knee — replacement surgery this month. Five per cent of the beneficiaries are undergoing hip-replacement surgery.
“For me, the biggest scientific advancements mean nothing if they do not reach the common man,” said Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil, founder-chairman of SPARSH Hospital Group.
“We reach out to retired teachers who don’t have access to sophisticated treatment and provide them with solutions to make them independent and pain-free and give them a new lease of life. Hopefully, this will become a movement and more and more hospitals and communities will take this up and help out more people,” he said.
Jeyamma ST, 68, a retired teacher from Davanagere is among those selected for the free surgery. Jeyamma has difficulty with daily tasks. “I can’t cook as I can’t stand for more than ten minutes. I find it difficult to stand and walk after sitting. Getting up from the floor is a challenge,” she said.
Some like Shivapriya Swaminathan, who suffers from grade-4 arthritis, put off surgeries for years because of fear. “While working as a teacher, I’d stand for long hours. I had to run behind kids,” said Swaminathan, who is from Trichy. “Somehow, I’ve managed to overcome my fear. SPARSH doctors are helping us mentally prepare for the surgery,” she added. Swaminathan underwent some tests on Tuesday and is all set for the surgery. “One of her knees will be operated upon as part of the initiative,” said Dr Patil.
Govt mulling free knee
replacement for teachers
Dr Sharan Prakash Patil, medical education minister, said his department is considering offering free knee replacement for teachers. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Guru Namana, Patil said: “SPARSH can take care of the screening and the government will organise a free knee-replacement programme in every district.”
“I will bring this up in the next budget,” he added.
