Nita Ambani led Reliance Foundation’s efforts to help people have seen an upsurge through the years. Apart from its Bharat India Jodo (BIJ) initiative and the Drishti program, the foundation’s foray into healthcare has also managed to touch the lives of several ailing people. Among them is Sulochana Shirvadekar who considers Reliance Foundation as a blessing in her life.
Sulochana Shirvadekar’s story
A homemaker, Sulochana Shirvadekar resides in the slums of the Saat Rasta area of Mumbai. She injured her left foot, and since she’s a diabetic, the injury refused to heal quickly. Although initially, Sulochana and her husband both believed it to be a shoe bite that would not go away, the wound compelled her to take support while walking. The slum doctor’s treatment provided temporary relief, but the problem persisted.
Reliance Foundation Clinic
One day, Sulochana’s husband spotted
Reliance Foundation (RF) Mobile van near their locality, and he approached it. Having explained his wife’s condition, the team asked him to visit the Reliance Foundation Clinic along with her.
On examination, the doctor at the clinic found that Mrs. Shirvadekar’s wound, which was 6 cm X 7 cm in size was infected. Adding to this, the rise in her blood sugar levels aggravated the condition. This meant that she couldn’t be treated in a clinic and required hospitalization. However, the latter would be expensive and Sulochana stated that she would not be able to afford the fees.
Sulochana’s treatment
The medical team at the RF Clinic took her case up as a challenge, deciding to treat her at the Outpatient Department (OPD) itself. Although the recovery was estimated to take up to four months, Sulochana recovered in just six weeks. She states that this was possible due to the expertise of the Reliance Foundation medical team which is led by
Nita Ambani, and their constant care, along with the regular dressing.
Having recovered successfully, Sulochana is able to continue her daily routine without any hindrance. She explained how RF’s Health For All program is a boon which grants individuals like her the access to quality services at reasonable rates.
Health For All program
Reliance Foundation’s outreach program is revitalizing the healthcare sector in India, having already helped over 3, 50,000 individuals across the country. Two major pillars of this program are the Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) and Static Medical Units (SMUs) which provide medical care across specific localities in Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Mumbai.
Reliance Foundation Drishti
In association with the National Association for the Blind (NAB), Reliance Foundation Drishti works to support visually impaired individuals across India. The program is associated with almost 59 hospitals and sponsors free corneal transplants. The foundation’s initiative has improved the lives of over 14,000 individuals over the past ten years.
Summary
Reliance Foundation continues to revitalize the healthcare sector in India, improving the lives of many. Sulochana Shirvadekar is one of the many individuals who has benefited from the help provided by the foundation.