Importance of medicine

BANGALORE: Dr Ramana Rao, who has been rendering services in the field of medicine, has been nominated for the Namma Bengaluru Awards. In conversation with City Express, Rao shared his views on the projects and services offered to the underprivileged in and around the city.“Right from my childhood, my parents constantly encouraged us to help the needy,” said Dr Ramana Rao who started Raj Prakash Trust in the year 1973 for philanthropic purposes.This trust is active on every Sunday and caters to the needs of the poor.He said, “Education like medicine must be put to good use to serve the poor for it to be meaningful and satisfying.” Free medical tests are given to people whose standard of living is below poverty line at T Begur, where over 700 to 900 people are not only provided free medical examination but also served with mid-day meals under the initiative of Dr Ramana Rao.Also, cataract operations are conducted.When asked about funding and sponsors, he said, “The pharmaceutical companies have been supporting this initiative for a very long time.There are also friends who have lent their helping hands to serve the deprived.The trust charges no money at all for the services.” The Raj Prakash Trust also provides books, stationary and other basic requirements for children in over 50 schools for the past two years.Speaking about this initiative, he added, “We have realised that along with providing medical requirements, it is also necessary to educate the poor on the importance of medicine in their daily lives. Keeping in mind the hygiene aspect, we have also constructed 679 toilets in rural Bangalore.” The trust, run by Dr Ramana Rao, also supplies drinking water by digging borewells. He concluded, “There is a dearth of such important facilities in India and this is only a small contribution that I can make to the society.”