Ahmedabad, 4 May 2012

Polio Foundation, a Gujarat -based organization set up way back in 1987 to help physically handicapped children, will celebrate its silver jubilee on May 5, 2012. It has also organized a musical night at Rajpath Club, Ahmedabad to mark the occasion and create awareness amongst various sections of the society. Well-known Gazal singer Manhar Udhas will enthrall the audience at the event. He accepted to perform for the event on an honorary basis for this noble cause.

Commenting on silver jubilee celebrations of the foundation, its chairman Dr. Bharat Bhagat said, “After its inception in 1987, Polio Foundation has come a long way to help the physically handicapped children. It started a rehabilitation center for cerebral palsied children in the year 2000 and also runs a multi-specialty center for the needy people since 2010.

Polio Foundation working in areas where others are not working or very few charitable trusts are working. Polio foundation is working hard to prevent blindness in diabetic by providing treatment to diabetic retinopathy patients. It is also performing cornea grafting surgery free of cost. Polio foundation also runs dialysis center.

Going forward, it is going to launch a special project called Retinopathy of Prematurity in Neonates (ROP) for the state of Gujarat. The total cost of the project is Rs. 1.25 crore and the state government has provided a grant of Rs. 65 lakh to the project. It is first of its kind project in Gujarat and second in the country. Apart from that, another special project called ‘Detection & Management of Diabetic Retinopathy’ is also in the offing.

The foundation has also received ISO certification. It is worthwhile to mention that on his visit Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Former President of India, was so impressed by the activities undertaken by the foundation that he himself donated in the foundation and provided help in preparing low weight calipers.

The main objective of Polio Foundation is to help the physically handicapped children by way of corrective surgery and giving them necessary appliances so that they can walk on their feet without anybody’s assistance. Initially from 1987 to 1992, the corrective operations were done only on Sundays but since March 1992, when Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation provided a special premises – a three-storied hospital in the heart of the city on a token rent of Rs. 1011 per year. These operations are done daily basis and all treatments, care and calipers are provided free of cost.

While the foundation also celebrates various festivals and special days like sports day and organizes seminars on various subjects, it also operates a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery unit, Pediatric, Ophthalmology unit, Diabetic Foot care unit and undertakes diagnosis by Hi-Tech gadgets like Thesiowin, Canwin, Atherowin & Podiascan. For further information Dr. Mehul Shah, Managing Trustee, can be contacted at 9825051162.

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