Mangaluru: Medical facilities have always been far from the reach of the poor and the financially challenged. At times like these, they depend on the goodness and generosity of others, like city based cardiologist, Dr. Padmanabha Kamath.

While the rest of us were out partying or out to dinner with friends and/or family, the good doctor was out offering wheelchairs to the poor and those in need, at the Wenlock and Lady Goshen Hospitals in Mangaluru.

Dr Kamath says, he took up this initiative after he visited a charitable institution recently in the city, where he saw a few children affected by the muscular dystrophy moving with the help of wheelchair.

“This moved me and I had a thought that wheel chairs must be given to people who have mobility issues. Hence I decided to donate the wheel chairs to Wenlock hospital,” he said adding that need for wheelchair is seen specifically in government hospitals.

Moreover, there are people who are ready to donate, but they do not know how to go about doing it, says Dr Kamath adding that what he has done is too small a move and feels that NGOs, philanthropists should come forward to take up such initiatives.

“I could do this because, I have been seeing patients since 25 years. I am aware of their problems. What I have done is a small initiative. People can help the needy by such initiatives. There are so many things plaguing the society, which need our attention,” says Dr Kamath.

However, such deeds of changing lives of the needy is not new to Dr Kamath. Over the last several years he has been donating essential commodities and medicines to ashrams in the city.

Dr Kamath gives credit to his wife stating that his wife Dr Soumini Kamath, pediatrician in KMC has been a great support in his social services.

DMO Dr Rajeshwari Devi speaking to newskaranataka, said that there are good hearted philanthropists in the city. There are many doctors working across the globe who have been trained in Wenlock hospital. The hospital needs support from them. There are nearly 1000 patient in the hospital from various places across the state, mostly hailing from economically backward families. “People spend lavishly for their birthdays, New Year celebrations etc. They should also come forward to help poor patients in the hospital,” he said.