TANKER Foundation Managing-Trustee, Mrs. Latha A. Kumaraswami, made a remarkable point during the Maathi Yosi segment of Kaalai Malar programme of Jaya TV when she said one should not look at running an NGO as a social service but as a responsibility / obligation to society.

She was on the Jaya TV show for six consecutive days starting November 15, 2021 when she was able to put forth many ideas from why kidney diseases occur to treatment, creating awareness and how to run an NGO.

The show brought to light the work being done by TANKER Foundation in providing free/subsidised dialysis, creating awareness, holding screening camps and encouraging research through grants.

On Day 1, Mrs. Latha Kumaraswami said TANKER was started in June 1993 with Rs. 3,000 in hand and that Dr. Georgi Abraham, the nephrologist who was with Tamilnad Hospital, suggested the starting of an NGO to help underprivileged kidney patients.

Mrs. Latha Kumaraswami said the organisation now has 12 dialysis units spread over Tamil Nadu and Andamans and has the honour of being the first NGO to provide dialysis for HIV+ patients also.

She praised the work being done by the staff even during the Corona pandemic, and said they call them ‘Nadamadum Kadavulgal’ and Angels on Earth for their selfless service.

On Day 2, Mrs. Latha Kumaraswami talked of the subsidised / free dialysis being provided and TANKER’s other activities. There are patients with TANKER dialysis unit who have survived for more than 15 years, she said. On a worrying note, she said kidney disease was growing in India and prevention and awareness were keys to containing this disease. Ultimate goal is to make dialysis affordable and spread awareness, she pointed out, apart from screening and helping research.

A short message from TANKER’s Goodwill Ambassador, actor Suriya, was featured in the segment.

On Day 3, Mrs. Latha Kumaraswami discussed the reasons leading to kidney diseases. Speaking about awareness, she said high risk factors were diabetes, high blood pressure, genetic reasons and overuse of painkillers.

She also listed ways to keep the kidneys going as they were an important organ of the body, and suggested ways of treatment starting with medication up to kidney transplant. TANKER’s Managing-Trustee also described the various dialysis methods.

Mrs. Latha Kumaraswami announced that she was set to be president of International Federation of Kidney Federations – World Kidney Alliance of which TANKER is a member and that World Kidney Day is observed every year in March.
On Day 4, Mrs. Latha Kumaraswami spoke about creating awareness and prevention, and spoke in detail about symptoms. She pointed out the difference between acute kidney disease and chronic kidney disease.

Kidney health for all and better living is the message of this World Kidney Day, she said, and pointed to the importance of the day.

Showing a copy of the autobiography of Dr Georgi Abraham, ‘My Patients My God – Journey of Kidney Doctor’, she said it contains his experiences and that its proceeds go to TANKER.

On Day 5, Mrs. Latha Kumaraswami explained how to start a foundation like TANKER.

She listed inspiration, joining with like-minded people, starting a trust, deciding on objectives and then registering the trust as part of the initial process.

Family and friends were the first supporters after which credibility grows and the circle widens, she explained.
While stating that a public figure being involved in the trust also helps, she cautioned that one has to be transparent in all the dealings of the trust. Donations will then happen. Organisations also need a lot of volunteers, she said.

Mrs. Latha Kumaraswami recalled the inspiration provided by freedom fighter, Mrs. Manjubhashini, her grandparent-in-law and a social activist, in carrying out her work in TANKER Foundation.

The Managing-Trustee reserved Day 6 of the Maathi Yosi programme to state what values she learnt from TANKER Foundation. I have learnt a lot, she said: first empathy to understand others’ suffering; compassion –not show pity but love; to do any job correctly; transparency in everything; respecting everybody; gratitude – to make the receiver know our gratitude; being thankful for money, skills and time offered by anybody; that big donor is as important as the one who donates Rs. 100; team effort is important; the NGO has also taught that health is very important so we must respect physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Helping people is a responsibility, she concluded, not forgetting to thank Jaya TV for giving her the Maathi Yosi time slot for almost a week to talk about TANKER Foundation and its work.