Freemasonry is one of the world's oldest secular fraternal societies. It is a world wide organization based on the principle of Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Man. It is a society of Men concerned with moral and spiritual values. Its members are taught percepts by a series of rituals. It seeks to make good men better and thereby make world a better place to live.
Freemasonry is one of the world's oldest secular fraternal societies. It is a world wide organization based on the principle of Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Man. It is a society of Men concerned with moral and spiritual values. Its members are taught precepts by a series of rituals. It seeks to make good men better and thereby make world a better place to live.
Freemasonry has been in existence in the present for nearly 280 years in the world with 150 Grand Lodges and over 375 Lodges ( groups ) with 20000 members all over India. It is not a religion but religious and secular. Its ethical teachings dwell on our duty to God, to our country, to our neighbours and to ourselves. It is not a secret society or a social club. It is not a political party or an organization. In fact it is a way of life.
Freemasonry is found on three grand principles namely Brotherly love, Relief and Truth. The distinguishing characteristics of a Freemason's heart is Charity. In pursuance of those ideals, the Freemasons of Coimbatore decided to undertake need based charity and the result is the Masonic Medical Centre for Children. The Coimbatore Masonic Charity Trust was founded with 15 Life Trustees in the year 1978. A clinic was started in the year 1982 with one Medical Officer and one nurse. The clinic was inaugurated by R.W. Regional Grand Master of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India R.W.Bro A.S.Rajasabhai.
The Trust was headed by the Statesman Entrepreneur Cav Dr.G.K.Devarajulu and the other Founder Trustees were N.R.Doraiswami, D.Dorairaj, G.R.Govindarajulu, L.Hariachar, Dr.D.Jayawarthanavelu, R.Jagdishchandran, P.Jagadisan, C.V.Ramraj, N.Rudrappan, R.Somasundaram, Dr.V.P.Subbian, K.Venkatesalu, G.Varadaraj and Dr.K.R.Venkatesalu.
The hospital had begun to function from the old building on Race Course and the property had been the residence of A.T.Lakshmanaswamy Mudaliar, the Founder Vice President of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Coimbatore. He was the first son of the most charitable Rao Bahadur A.T.Thiruvengadasami Mudliar (1855 - 1923) who had been the Chairman of the Coimbatore Municipality for a decade.
The number of patients increased over the years and a new building was put in the campus due to the assurance of some non masonic friends like G.Venkataraman and V.Jagannathan. The leadership of the Chairman G.K.Devarajulu and dynamic work of N.R.Doraiswami ensured that things fell in place. R.Somasundram had worked tirelessly in the interest of the facility. Today, the good work has resulted in a marvelous facility at affordable cost.
The present management consists of Sanjay Jayawarthanavelu ( Chairman & Managing Trustee ), PR.Rathnam ( Hon. Secretary ), M.Ganesh Kumar ( Hon. Treasurer ), G.Soundararajan, D.Dhamodharswamy and Dr.SP. Thiagarajan. The former Chairman R.Somasundaram is the Advisor - Administration, while Dr.M.Ramaswamy is Advisor - Medicine and Dr.Ramkumar Raghupathy is Advisor - Surgery. The Chief Medical Officer ( CMO ) is Dr.R.Krishnaswamy.
"The Masonic Medical Centre has a NABH accreditation and we have structured the man power as per norms. The facility has 100 beds, lab, 24 hour pharmacy, X Ray Unit, facilities like Ultra Sound and Echo, Canteen, Kids play area, Neo Natal ICU, regular ICU, facilities for Pediatric Dentistry. We have also specialists for ENT, Dermatology, Speech Therapy and Counselling. Surgeons Dr.Rajamani and Dr.Muthukrishnan offer their services on a regular basis at this facility. We get about 150 patients everyday and our Out Patient charges are Rs.100.
The pharmacy offers a 10 % concession for all the medicines available. Currently there are 10 Senior Doctors and 10 Trainee Doctors who have completed their under graduate programme in medicine. The centre offers its services twice a week for 3 hours at Nanjundapuram. It was recently decided to expand the services to the suburbs and therefore a new full time facility has been established at Kalampalayam near Perur. It functions for 6 days a week (suburban centre). Our wish is to add more services over time at an affordable cost. The facility at Race Course is computerized and file maintenance is done by our staff itself. The centre participates in all the voluntary public health programmes. The Coimbatore Masonic Charity Trust is offering a high quality service at an affordable cost, " stated the Honourary Secretary PR.Rathnam.
The Medical Centre has been equipped with - Blood Cell Counter, Auto Analyzers, Mobile X Ray Unit and an ambulance van. Uninterrupted power supply is ensured thanks to generation facilities and the operation theatre is endowed with a pediatric laparoscopy set and an imported lighting system. It is a state of art facility. The emergency ward has ventilators and enough warmer units and monitors. A nice library, auditorium etc., are part of the infrastructure. The first floor of the old building is used for the Lodge Meetings and is accessed separately.
The atmosphere at the campus is sylvan. A number of big trees decorate the campus and the facility is set in a place which is centrally located. It can easily be accessed by all modes of transport and the kids would definitely feel better for Race Course offers a lot of shade and oxygen. Quite a few kids from other cities and towns are referred to this facility. The affordable cost, ethical approach and service with a smile at the suburbs like Kalampalayam near Perur make it very interesting for the Coimbatoreans who believe in these principles.
The good work of the founders, donors, lodge members, doctors, paramedical staff and other employees at the Masonic Medical Centre for children needs to be applauded. Coimbatore once again stands tall as a symbol of service ad philanthropy, thanks to the Coimbatore Masonic Charity Trust.