Breast surgeon Raghu Ram launches projects in adopted village

Setting a model for others, eminent breast surgeon P. Raghu Ram has undertaken various initiatives worth Rs 50 lakh in his adopted village Ibrahimpur in Telangana.

Irrigation Minister Harish Rao launched the completed projects in the village on the Telangana Formation Day on Saturday.

Along with his parents Chalapathi Rao, Ushalakshmi and wife Vyjayanthi -- all doctors -- Raghu Ram contributed the money for various projects in Ibrahimpur, a remote village in Medak district with a population of around 1,000 people and 265 homes which he adopted in 2016.

The projects launched on Saturday include 'Vaikuntam', a modern crematorium built over one acre. The villagers were earlier forced to travel 20 km to Siddipet to perform the last rites of their loves ones.

He also built 46 sheep sheds with solar electrification over three acres of land on the outskirts of the village.

"Sheep are housed away from the village so that they do not come into the village, thus preventing animal borne diseases within the village community," Raghu Ram, Director, KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases, Hyderabad, said on Sunday.

He also got solar systems installed for 26 houses to provide free electricity to the poorest of the poor.

The minister laid the foundation stone for a community library, which would provide access to newspapers, magazines and books in addition to an Internet cafe for residents to improve their quality of lives.

Last year, he had built a dining room in the village school. The students were earlier eating their lunch in open compound which was causing great inconvenience and health hazards, particularly in summer.

He also built a digital study room in the school providing access to state of the art audio visual facilities.

The surgeon pledged to develop a Village Health Centre in partnership with the state government and providing basic healthcare to residents with active assistance from KIMS Hospitals.

As cancer is one of leading causes of deaths in the country, a regular Cancer Screening Programme would be implemented to detect breast, cervical and oral cancers in early stages, which would benefit residents in and around Ibrahimpur, thus saving many lives.

"A man's true wealth is the good he does in the world. Trust this initiative would encourage many more citizens to adopt villages and reach out to those who need help and assistance," said Raghu Ram.

--IANS

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