The Beginning of A Mission - Fulfillment of a Vision
The story of the Charmakki Narayana Shetty Lions Eye Hospital in Kota

by Vivek Pinto, www.daijiworld.com
Fotografs: Stephen Lewis, Mayur Studio, Saligrama

Bringing out a smile...

An idea begins with a vision and action brings it in sight. This would  aptly describe the Charmakki Narayana Shetty Memorial Lions Hospital in Kota. This hospital came abouas a vision of the citizens of Barkur-Brahmavar, with outside help from some thoughtful souls.

Charmakki Narayana Shetty Memorial Lions Eye Hospital. Kota

The Lions Club, Barkur-Brahmavar was established in 1972 and since then has  been involved in a number of social service activities. In 2000 the Club organised an eye camp in Barkur. Sixty three cataract patients were  operated during this camp. The success of this camp gave birth to an idea to start an eye hospital for the people of that area. In the meantime, monthly eye camps were arranged at the Lions Club building in Kota. An operation theatre was also added to the building. Since then a total of 2,586 cataract operations were carried out.

Looking at the popularity and success of these eye camps, the Charmakki Narayana Shetty Trust (CNST), Bangalore, came forward and offered to build an eye hospital. The Lions Club building in Kota was demolished and in its place a brand new hospital, the Charmakki Narayana Shetty Memorial Lions Eye Hospital was constructed. The enormous cost of Rs. 35 lakhs was entirely borne by the Trust. Trustee Charmakki Nagesh Shetty took personal interest in the project and ensured the successful completion of the hospital building.

The hospital is now entirely managed by the Lions Club Trust of Services and Charities, Lions Club, Brahmavar-Barkur, which is headed by Lion B. Jagajeevandas Shetty. The moderator of the hospital is Lion S. Chandrashekara Shetty (former vice-chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore). The chairman of the Lions Eye Hospital Project  Committee is Dr. P. Mahabaleshwara Mayya and the honorary medical director is Dr. Sunder Ram Shetty. At present Dr. Manoj M. Shet (MS) is actively managing the hospital as the resident ophthalmologist.

The new hospital was inaugurated on January 18, 2004. The second vice-president, Lions Club International, Lion Ashok Mehta visited the hospital on March 5. The hospital also had the privilege of hosting Sudha Murthy, head of the Infosys Foundation, who appreciated the services of the hospital.

The last six months have seen 700 cataract operations being conducted. Ninety five per cent of the patients are treated free and only five per cent of the well to do patients are charged at highly subsidised rates for the operations. Every Monday, free eye operations are carried out at the hospital.

The Lions Club Trust for Services and Charities is running the hospital at a cost of Rs. 70,000 per month. The hospital has requested 70 donors to come forward and donate Rs. 10,000 each year, for three years. The aim of the trust is to collect a sum of Rs. 21 lakhs to maintain the hospital. So far 50 donors have come forward.

The Lions Club, Barkur-Brahmavar, stands in the first place in Lions District 324/D4 comprising of the revenue districts of Chitradurga, Davangere, Shimoga and Udupi. The Club has a list of future projects that it plans to execute in the near future. Among the facilities planned are the mobile pick-up vans for arranging the screening camps in rural areas.

Eye operation in progress

Ultra modern sophisticated testing equipment

General Ward

Rtn. Narasimha Nayak, President, Rotary Club, Mandarthi,  Ln. A. Sadashiva Hegde, Treasurer of the trust, Ln. B. Krishnayya Shetty, Administrator of the Hospital, Ln. Raviraj Shetty, President, Ln. B. Seetharama Shetty, Secretary, Ln. A. Chandrashekara Shetty, Vice President of the Lions Trust of Services and Charities.

OPD

Sudha Moorthi with the Lions

Ln. Ashok Mehtha with Dr. Chadrashekara Shetty and Dr. P. Mahabaleshwara Mayya.

Contributions or donation cheques and DD are to be drawn on Lions Trust of Services and Charities, A/C No. SB11337, Vijaya Bank Brahmavar, and sent to  Mr. B. Seetharama Shetty, secretary, Lions Trust of Services and Charities, Retd. Principal, Post Barkur, Udupi, 576210.