Ground Warming Ceremony for proposed new premises of Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital & Research Institute at Amaravathi in Andhra Pradesh was performed on Thursday.
Nara Chandra Babu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh along with his wife Nara Bhuvaneshwari participated in the event as chief guests along with Sri Nandamuri Balakrishna and his wife Vasundhara has participated and performed the traditional rituals related to the event. Along with them Smt Lokeswari, Uma Maheswari both daughter of Late NTR and Sri Rama Krishna, Mohankrishna, Jayashankar Krishna all sons of Late NTR also attended the program. Sri Nara Lokesh, Minister in Andhra Pradesh Government was also present during the ceremony.
Apart from family members of NTR, the program was attended by Dr Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, Speaker, Andhra Pradesh Assembly & Trust Board Member, BIACH&RI; Dr Dattatreyudu Nori, Trust Board Member, BIACH&RI; Dr Tulasi Devi Polavarapu, Trust Board Member, BIACH&RI; Nama Nageswara Rao, Trust Board Member, BIACH&RI; JSR Prasad, Trust Board Member, BIACH&RI, Sribharath Mitukumally, Trust Board Member, BIACH&RI; Dr RV Prabhakar Rao, CEO, BIACH&RI; Dr TS Rao, Medical Director, BIACH&RI; Dr Kalpana Raghunath, MS, BIACH&RI; Sri Ravi Kumar, COO, BIACH&RI among others also participated in the program.
Later the leaders participated in a public meeting arranged on this occasion that was attended by Nara Chandra Babu Naidu as chief guest along with Dr Kodela Sivaprasada Rao as Guest of Honor. The meeting was presided by Nandamuri Balakrishna, Chairman, BIACH&RI. Along with them the meeting was attended by ministers Sri Prathipati Pulla Rao, Nakka Ananda Babu, NMD Farooq, Kidari Sravan Kumar and Galla Jayadev, Parliament Member, Guntur; Tenali Sravan Kumar, MLA, Tadikonda.
At the beginning of the meeting welcoming the guests, Nandamuri Balakrishna, Chairman, BIACH&RI has expressed happiness on organizing Bhoomi Puja for New Cancer Facility at Amaravathi. He said that the new facility will provide advance cancer treatment facilities locally at Amaravathi itself.
Revealing the details of new facility, Balakrishna said that the proposed new facility is designed to have 1000 bed and in first phase the hospital will come up as 300 bed hospital with an expected investment of roughly 400 crores. He appealed to donors to come forward in generating money through generous donations.
Later speaking on the occasion, Dr Dattatreyudu Nori has explained the journey of Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital that was now known as one of renowned cancer care facilities in the nation. The hospital has earned the reputation of having latest, ultra modern diagnostic facilities and also got recognition for unique expertise of its doctors. This is possible only due to hard work put up by the doctors and other staff members of the hospital, he said.
While adding more to it, Dr Tulasi Devi Polavarapu, Trust Board Member, BIACH&RI has explained how several Non Resident Andhriates has supported and donated huge amounts of money for a call given by Late NTR. She also explained several measures undertaken by the hospital in detecting the disease early through various screening camps and also creating awareness among common man through such camps.
Later speaking on the occasion, Dr Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, Speaker, Andhra Pradesh Assembly has remembered how the hospital came into existence and now being developed as premier facility by facing various obstacles in its journey.
Finally speaking on the occasion, Nara Chandra Babu Naidu, tried to recall the agony faced by Late Basavatarakam while fighting the cancer. She could not be saved due to lack of proper treatment facilities in those days, he said. Understanding the agony that every cancer patient undergoes, Late NTR has decided to establish the cancer facility, he explained. Since then lakhs of cancer patients have taken treatment in the hospital, he said. While remembering how Late Atal Bihar Vajpayee came forward to inaugurate the facility earlier in Hyderabad.
Chandra Babu Naidu appreciated the efforts of Nandamuri Balakrishna who is continuing his father’s dream and vision. He also said that with such great initiatives in politics and also in service, Late NTR will always remain in the hearts of Telugu people. He also appreciated Sri Nandamuri Balakrishna, Who is heading Basavatarakam Memorial Cancer Foundation and also Nara Bhuvaneshwari, Who is successfully running NTR Memorial Trust. He appealed to the people to gain knowledge about the disease and have more awareness so that it can be prevented at earliest. He also suggested that Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital must focus on research on cancer along with providing treatment. He also revealed that Amaravathi will have 14 hospitals and 14 medical colleges thus making it a major medical hub in the country. He also requested the hospital authorities to complete the construct in one and half year’s period.