Coimbatore : City-based Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital (KMCH) on Saturday joined hands with Rotary Club of Coimbatore Central to support poor underprivileged children with Type 1 Diabates, with a new initiative..

Under the project ‘Kathir A Ray of Hope,’ inaugurated at the hospital around 40 children were provided with lifesaving insulin treatment, consumables and insulin pumps,

Each pump costing R.1.5 lakh will be life-changing for these children, hospital chairman,Dr Nalla G Palaniswami, who pledged continued support for these children, said.

Idhayangal Charitable Trust, a charity dedicated to help poor children with Type 1 diabetes, is part of the project.

Rotary Club Coimbatore Central President Arivudai Nambi said that the Rs.66 lakh (94,000 USD) grand project was made possible due to their collaboration with Rotary Club of Necketral Switzerland and Rotary club of Sterling USA,

There are more than 1,000 children with diabetes requiring insulin in Coimbatore and adjoining districts and around one lakh children throughout India.

These children need life long insulin injection, usually four times a day and if not done properly, it will lead to diabetic coma and death.

There are nearly 400 children with this condition in the hospital with many families from poor socio-economic status.

Cost of insulin and consumables along with hospital admissions are extremely high and the good news is that if they are treated properly with insulin or given a gadget called “Insulin pump” (a device that pumps insulin continuously) they lead normal healthy lives, Palaniswamy said.