A group of 40 expats from Dharma, Karamsad, Bhadran and other villages of Charotar visited Karamsad-based Shree Krishna Hospital on January 17. Prominent among those present were Surendrabhai Patel, Maharbhai Patel, Praveenaben Patel, Kamleshbhai Patel and Kantibhai
Patel all of Dhasol and Virendrabhai Patel. There were also a couple of guests from the USA - Vishubhai Patel from Newyork and Dineshbhai Patel from West Springfield, Massachusetts.
The group was addressed by Dr Amrita Patel, Chairman of Charutar Arogya Mandal which manages the hospital and Jagrutbhai Bhatt, the Honorary Secretary of the Mandal. Amritaben spoke of the evolution of the Mandal and the long struggle it underwent to remain an upright, honest and
transparent institution, while at the same time become one of the finest healthcare facility and educational centre in the country.
She mentioned that the Mandal could never have managed to do so well without the support
and generous contribution of the community, especially the people of Charotar. Jagrutbhai mentioned that while so far over 95% of the funding of the Mandal has been domestic, the Mandal is confident that in times of need, there would be far greater contribution from the community abroad. He said that the visit of team to the Mandal last year in June, which also included Amritaben, was not only noteworthy in respect of the amount of funds that we so generously committed in a matter of a few days, but the warmth and enthusiasm with which the team was received.
Surendrabhai said that there were still some Gold rooms in the newly constructed Privilege Centre, for which a contribution of GBP 10,000 per room is determined and requested all present to not only contribute generously but also encourage their relatives and friends to do so. Manharbhai requested all present to provide names and addresses of their acquaintances in the UK so that a directory could be created for the Mandal to send regular updates on the developments and requirements. Virendrabhai Patel generously announced a further contribution of GBP 15,000 to the Mandal on the occasion.
After the meeting, the group visited various facilities of the hospital, including a ward, its Cardiac and Cancer Centres as well the new Privilege Centre. While the group was very appreciative of the level and upkeep of the facilities, especially the spotlessly floors and walls, it was the Privilege Centre that received the most effusive praise. The Privilege Centre, with its exclusive out-patient services called Privilege Day Care, its preventive health check-up programmes, named Hello Health, its very well-appointed Gold Rooms with facilities to make patients and relatives comfortable such as television, refrigerator and microwave with an attached wash room and couch for relatives and the large and elegantly prepared Platinum and Diamond Suites, has started full-fledged operations only recently, but even in this short time, has received overwhelming
response from the community.
