Saving Little Lives: Sachin Tendulkar teams up with SRCC Hospital
The coronavirus pandemic has completely changed the way we once looked at our lives and the healthcare system in the country. And while the virus keeps impacting thousands every day, we are not free from other illnesses. Several medical institutions are already under the immense pressure of confronting COVID-19, but there have been struggles in coping up with other serious ailments as well. While Sachin Tendulkar has been at the forefront in the fight against coronavirus, he has also continued his involvement in helping underprivileged children by partnering with SRCC Children’s Hospital.
Most childhood illnesses are catastrophic. They can strike suddenly and a lot of parents are ill-prepared for this. Many of those, who are from low-income and middle-income group, do not have enough funds to be able to afford the expensive treatments necessary to keep their child out of trouble. This is where the SRCC Children’s Hospital managed by Narayana Health steps in. With generous contributions from Tendulkar via his foundation, they have changed and resurrected the lives of plenty.
Dr Soonu Udani, Medical Director of SRCC Children’s Hospital, explained the importance of their partnership with India’s legendary former cricketer. Many of their patients come from poor backgrounds and have severe financial crunch. Some of the NGOs and donors are quick to help the children in cases with straight-forward solutions, but few come forward when illnesses are critical and require long-term care. Tendulkar, through his foundation, has helped the hospital in taking care of such cases and putting a smile back on their faces.
Take the recent example of this 14-year old boy who woke up one day to find that he was unable to walk. Suffering from a problem of spinal cord inflammation, the boy and the parents had to spend 12 hours in search of a hospital that could treat the issue. The child was without food and water for the entire time since he could not swallow. It was only the SRCC Hospital that took him in for the treatment. Tendulkar, through his foundation, stepped in and cleared a large portion of his bills to see the boy get back on his feet.
An even more traumatic case was that of the two-year-old baby boy who was diagnosed with a liver tumour. Post-surgery, he fell extremely sick and needed intensive care straightaway. The family had already spent every penny they had but the foundation once again rose to the task and saved another life by providing help at the right time. While the SRCC Hospital receives support from many other foundations and NGOs, their association with the Tendulkar has been a special one. Prolonged treatment in intensive care is a niche that receives little help from other foundations. It is extremely critical to understand the importance of it and the toll it can take upon families that are ill-equipped to face such a tragedy. Along with his foundation, Tendulkar has taken a lead in truly ensuring that our future – our children remain fit and healthy.
The partnership between Bharata Ratna Tendulkar and the SRCC Hospital has been solid since the past few years. The batting maestro along with his wife Dr Anjali Tendulkar inaugurated Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Services at the hospital in December 2018. The services helped in treating children suffering from leukaemia, many other types of cancers as well as non-cancerous conditions and certain neurological disorders. Tendulkar’s participation also helped in raising awareness about BMT donors in India which can save the lives of lakhs of children.
