Tamil Nadu’s Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Mr. Ma. Subramanian, said he admired and appreciated the dedicated work TANKER Foundation does and that everyone involved took ownership of TANKER.

He was speaking as the chief guest at the 32nd Annual Charity and Awards Nite of TANKER Foundation Monday, January 27, 2025, in Chennai.

The Minister talked about chronic kidney disease being a major public health challenge and that it was the need of the hour for more resources to be made available from the public and private sectors for addressing awareness, organ donation and all related problems.

Mr. Subramanian said the Tamil Nadu government has instituted several schemes to take medical care to the doorsteps of the public and also in taking more preventive action for identifying non-communicable diseases in people.

Guest of honour, Mr. M. Anandan, Founder and Executive Chairman, Aptus Value Housing Finance Ltd, said he was happy to be a part of TANKER Foundation and appreciated the dedicated service that they were doing for the needy with kidney disease.

Dr. Georgi Abraham, Founder Trustee, TANKER Foundation, said research was important for the prevention of kidney disease and that TANKER Foundation was working towards this with doctors and specialists from all over India.

TANKER Foundation Managing Trustee, Mrs. Latha Kumaraswami, welcomed the gathering and said the need for dialysis was increasing and that more awareness had to be created about kidney disease. The Awards Nite was a function to recognise research in nephrology and service to the public, she pointed out.

The Managing Trustee said TANKER Foundation has grown from small beginnings in 1993 with valuable help from the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS), the Central government, Greater Chennai Corporation, family, friends, Rotary, Lions, Round Table, Freemasons, Ladies Circle, Inner Wheel Club, corporates, individuals and other valuable donors.

Mrs. Latha Kumaraswami thanked the invaluable staff of TANKER Foundation for being Angels on Earth, especially for their commitment and dedication during the pandemic and cyclones.

She also thanked TANKER Foundation’s well-wishers, sponsors, the staff and management of Savera Hotel, and especially Mrs. Nina Reddy of Savera Hotel, for the wonderful hospitality extended at Savera.

Mr. V. Gururajan, a post-transplant survivor for 32 years, delivered The Mr. Venkatesan & Mrs. Malathi Venkatesan TANKER Foundation Memorial Lecture, under the title: ‘Journey of a Kidney Transplant Patient’.

He shared his experiences and several heartwarming stories about his brother, who donated his kidney, his family and friends who supported him. He talked of coming to terms with his health and how he takes care of himself with diet, exercise, yoga and meditation.

Mr. Subramanian presented the annual awards to the various recipients.