Priya Dutt roots for Vishranti centre in Pune

Congress MP Priya Dutt has appealed to people to contribute to the city-based Vishranti cancer palliative centre monetarily or by other means, to help it grow. She was speaking at the 18th edition of ‘Diwali with a Purpose’ programme of the Care India Medical Society (CIMS), founders of Vishranti centre in the city on Tuesday.

Each Diwali, CIMS organises a programme for cancer survivors and families to share their experiences as well as raise awareness on pain management for cancer patients
Dutt, whose mother and actress, Nargis Dutt, succumbed to cancer, empathised with families of cancer survivors who shared their experiences. She said, “I came to Vishranti a year ago and I was bowled over by their work. This is a place that really cares for cancer patients and allows them to bear the disease with dignity. I appeal to those people who say they wish to give to charity but doubt its genuineness, contribute to Vishranti. This place gives five-star treatment to poor patients and doesn’t believe that being poor means you have to compromise on quality.’’

Dutt also added that the Nargis Dutt Cancer Foundation would support Vishranti’s mission through funds.

Among the cancer survivors and families, Alisheeba Shreeshundar, a nurse by profession, spoke of how defeated she felt when she discovered in 2010 that her husband Nelson had oral cancer. She felt hurt that she couldn’t help detect it earlier despite her profession. After exhausting all her resources, the Wanavdi couple recalled with tears in their eyes on how Nelson went without treatment for days for lack of funds to pay for radiation therapy.

“Someone suggested Vishranti and I approached them for help. My life changed completely, I cannot describe enough what they did for me. They talked to hospital authorities and arranged his treatment. In summers, when it became insufferable in our shanty, they housed and fed him and cared for him better than I could,’’ she recalled.

Like Shreeshundar, scores of cancer survivors and their families spoke of how Vishranti came to their aid in times of need by providing medicine, pain relief or just caring like no one else did.

The event was attended by Ravi Pandit, chairman and group CEO of KPIT Cummins Infosytems Ltd, Major General Manoj Luthra from AFMC, Lt Gen (retd) VD Tiwari and others.