Trinity Medicare Service Project 2 Launched in Mangaluru
Udupi/Mangaluru: Service rendered to the poor always carries God’s grace, and one can experience God through such service, said the Bishop of the Diocese of Mangaluru, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha.
He was speaking on Sunday while presiding over the inauguration of the second Trinity Medicare Service project, launched under the leadership of Joseph Menezes Sasthan, with the cooperation of Frida Rego and Janet Fernandes, at the Father Muller’s Convention Centre, Mangaluru. The project offers dialysis treatment at a 50 per cent concessional rate to eligible poor patients suffering from kidney failure in Dakshina Kannada district. The programme was organised as part of the centenary celebrations of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Diocese of Mangaluru.
Referring to Jesus Christ’s words that “Blessed are those who show compassion to the poor,” Bishop Saldanha said the Christian community has been successfully carrying out service to the needy through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Across the world, the organisation has been acting as a support system for families living in poverty. Such humanitarian service, he said, is always blessed by God.
Addressing the gathering as chief guest, Legislative Council member Ivan D’Souza said the Christian community has set an example for the world through its selfless service. Though constituting only 2.5 per cent of the population, the community extends its services to the remaining 97.5 per cent of the people, irrespective of caste and religion. He lauded the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for being at the forefront of such noble service.
Speaking on the occasion, Joseph Menezes, founder of Trinity Medicare Service, said every human being is born with the awareness that death is inevitable. How one lives between birth and death is the greatest offering to God. He stressed that life should be lived in a manner pleasing to God by helping those in distress.
International President of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Juan Manuel Burego Gomez attended as a chief guest, while National President Jude Mangal Raj, International General Council Special Ombudsman Joseph Pandian, Director of Father Muller Institutions Rev. Fr. Faustine Lucas Lobo, National Secretary Santiago Manickam, Coordinator Asha Vaz, youth representative Alister Nazareth, Central Council President Gabriel Joe Coelho, Spiritual Director Rev. Fr. Flavian Lobo, Secretary Ligory Fernandes, Treasurer Clarence Machado, Convenor Philomina Menezes, and other office bearers were present.
The dialysis scheme has already been launched in Udupi district, where patients are availing its benefits. Poor patients in need of dialysis treatment in Dakshina Kannada district can now apply for the scheme. The project is open to people of all religions and communities, subject to recommendation from the local St. Vincent de Paul unit of the parish.
Once registered under the scheme, patients will be issued an official identity card, enabling them to receive dialysis treatment at 50 per cent concessional rates at designated hospitals. Patients will bear 50 per cent of the treatment cost, while the remaining 50 per cent will be paid to the hospitals by Joseph Menezes and his team through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
It is noteworthy that Joseph Menezes and his family, through the Snehalaya Charitable Trust’s ‘Manna’ project, have been providing midday meals to patient attendants at Wenlock Hospital, Mangaluru, for several years with the support of donors. The family has committed to bearing the entire cost of this initiative for the next 100 years, and has now embarked on yet another people-centric welfare project.
