CSR

Frontier Lifeline Reaches out to Rural Women

Six young women from villages have been selected who are undergoing training in stem cell, tissue culture, tissue engineering and biotechnology

Frontier Lifeline and the Dr KM Cherian Heart Foundation, Chennai has been keenly involved in rural health enhancement programmes. This can be seen through various initiatives taken earlier such as the first rural cardiac specialty hospital offering tertiary level cardiac care in a village in Parumala, Kerala and numerous free cardiac screening camps widely conducted at frequent intervals in various parts of rural Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Frontier Lifeline's foray into North East India through its collaboration with the North East Indra Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) in Shillong, Meghalaya is another note-worthy effort.

On the occasion of women's day, a unique endeavor of Frontier Lifeline came into focus. As an extension of its forthcoming medical village project (Frontier Mediville), six young women from villages around the project site, who have completed up to 10th standard, have been selected and are currently undergoing a specialised training in technical aspects of stem cell, tissue culture, tissue engineering and biotechnology. This is a practical demonstration of its commitment to the rural population.

The initial batch of six women trainees is indicative of the increasing number of qualified village women who will be absorbed and trained as the project develops. The specialised technical skills learnt by them will lead to sustainable and gainful employment within the project, specifically in the National Medical Science Park and in the sterile bio-corridor which will facilitate production of consumables, disposables, pharmaceutical products required at the hospital and research laboratories.

These jobs are aimed at the social and economic uplift of the women community in the surrounding rural areas-an idea which has been greeted with approval and encouragement by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Kalaignar Dr M Karunanidhi, who will also be distributing appointment orders to them at the appropriate time.

Said Dr KM Cherian, Managing Director, "Through this endeavor, Frontier Lifeline seeks to offer these young women an opportunity to lift themselves up to become trained, productive members of society who can hold their heads high with pride and dignity, confident in their improved economic and social standing. This demonstrates the fundamental concept behind women's day— the empowerment of women."

EH News Bureau