Kochi: For Duro Komath of Pachalam, an auto driver at Ernakulam Market since 1978, it was a different role in Soukhyam-2015, the third edition of Hibi Eden MLA’s super-specialty medical outreach programme in his constituency.
If he came as a heart patient in the last year’s edition and then underwent a bypass surgery at the Aster Medcity free of cost under the programme, this year he helped other patients who turned up for the event as a volunteer.
“Till last year, I confined my thoughts to myself and my family but the help I got in a critical moment when I was struggling for money opened my eyes. So I decided to help others now,” he said.
The legislator’s programme helps many poor patients to get the health care from private hospitals in Kochi, otherwise out of reach for them due to high costs.
Not just the local people but Santo, 29, a native of Mundoor in Kozhikode, too got Soukhyam’s softtouch.
He had come to Kochi in search of a job after losing his house and belongings to a landslide two years ago and had been working as a security guard here.
He was battling a skin disease he contracted on both his legs from the flood waters then. He was quickly taken care of and was given medicines and a promise to secure a good job as well.
More than 7000 patients thronged the programme home minister Ramesh Chennithala inaugurated at Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium at 9 am on Sunday.
Mr Eden said continuous medical treatment worth Rs 1.50 crore was given to patients in the last two years. Sunday’s camp was led by district medical officer Dr K. V. Beena and former special officer of Ernakulam Government Medical College Dr Junaid Rehman.
