KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

J&K Bank in a major CSR initiative adopted at least 50 Hepatitis C patients belonging to underprivileged section of society across the state for complete treatment of the disease. The patients registered with Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar include children, men and women who lack financial resources to meet the expenses required for complete treatment of the disease. The initiative is supported by CIPLA India Pvt. Ltd.

J&K Bank Chairman and CEO Mushtaq Ahmad announced this, today on World Hepatitis Day, in presence of Principal GMC Prof Rafiq Ahmad Pampori, prominent gastro-entrologists from SKIMS Dr G N Yattoo, Dr Gul Javaid and CIPLA respresentative Amit Kumar at a function held here at Bank’s Corporate Headquarters. The bank’s Senior Presidents Vagish Chander, Abdul Rauf Bhat, S S Sehgal, Presidents, vice-president and senior officers of the bank besides dozens of Hepatitis C patients were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman said, “Since our CSR Department identified this critical health area for intervention that called for an immediate attention, we took the initiative instantly. And in the spirit of corporate social responsibility we reached an understanding with one of the top pharma companies of the country CIPLA for providing the world-class but affordable medicines for these patients. I thank CIPLA for coming forward voluntarily to meet this emerging health challenge in the state.”

“In collaboration with the Department of Hemophilia Day Care Centre at SMHS Hospital, we have identified more than 40 chronic cases of Hepatitis C and we have parked a sum of Rs 25 Lakh for the complete treatment of as many Hepatitis C patients as can be accommodated within the amount,” he said.

Let me assure you that J&K Bank shall continue to make effective financial interventions besides valuable contributions under CSR in all critical sectors thereby helping the people of Jammu and Kashmir become wealthier, healthier and wiser, he added.

Extending his heartfelt gratitude towards J&K Bank Dr Pampori said that the bank’s CSR activities had received a real shot in arm under the Chairmanship of Mushtaq Ahmad.

“We hope and expect that these initiatives get institutionalized and expanded to a much larger scale so that we meet such health challenges in a sustainable manner,” he added.

He urged CIPLA India to at least spend their CSR funds quite in proportion to their business earnings from the state.

Enunciating the reasons to support the Bank’s CSR initiative, CIPLA’s representative at the function Amit Kumar said “Being conscious of our responsibility towards the societies we operate in we decided to contribute towards the treatment of patients who cannot afford the treatment of such a disease. Since J&K Bank is the most credible public institution of the state, we joined hands with them to make our intervention meaningful and effective,” he added.

Dr Gul Javaid and Dr Yattoo also lauded the bank’s adoption of Hepatitis C Patients and spoke about Hepatitis C and it most probable causes in the local context of J&K.  Chairman and other dignitaries distributed medicine-kits among the adopted patients on the occasion.

Notably, the bank along with CIPLA India Pvt. Ltd. shall provide complete treatment support to the adopted patients; the cost of which in average terms ranges between Rs 90,000 – 1, 00, 000 per patient.

Meanwhile, paying tributes to India’s Ex-President, APJ Abdul Kalam, the participants in the function observed 2 minutes of silence on the occasion.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here