Have lunch and pitch in for a cause

On August 11, Viswajeyam Foundation is hosting a dine-and-donate fundraiser to keep its housekeeping services at the cancer block in Royapettah Government Hospital going

Viswajayam Foundation, a non-profit organisation that runs a free housekeeping service at the cancer block of Royapettah Government Hospital is hosting a dine and donate fundraiser on August 11.

The fundraiser, which will be held at Shree Geetha Bhavan on Avvai Shanmugam Salai in Gopalapuram will kickstart with a bharathnatyam performance by Sahana Selvaganesh, followed by a concert by Anil Srinivasan and Sikkil Gurucharan, and a ‘namasankeerthanam’, by Prashanthi and group.

“The artists will perform for free as a goodwill gesture towards the cause. Guests will be offered lunch after the cultural programmes. They can make a donation in return for their meal and the funds raised at the venue will go towards purchasing cleaning supplies and payment of salaries to the Foundation’s staff at the hospital,” says Sekar Viswanathan, founder of Viswajayam Foundation.

A zero-waste event

The fundraiser will also be a zero-waste event, where only eco-friendly and biodegradable materials will be used. The Foundation has roped in Ecokonnectors, a four-member group that promotes sustainable practices. Ecokonnectors will work with the caterers and cleaners to ensure that bio-degradable and non-decompostable waste are segregated. The bio-degradable waste such as leftovers, vegetable and fruit peels will be sent to the composting units run by the Greater Chennai Corporation and the non-decomposable waste to recycling units.

Six years and counting

The Foundation has been offering housekeeping services at the Oncology Block at Royapettah Government Hospital since 2013. Recently, it commenced services at the paediatric oncology ward of Institute Of Child Health (ICH) and Hospital for Children in Egmore.

“At Royapettah GH, there are 15 employees of the Foundation working in shifts to maintain cleanliness and hygiene at the cancer block and the Egmore Hospital has one staff for now. The housekeepers clean the washrooms and floors to ensure keep them free of germs and bacteria, as immunity in cancer patients in treatment is low and they are susceptible to infections. Apart from disinfecting the floors, the team also wash the bed linens and sterilise the surgical instruments,” Sekar says.

He adds that only organic disinfectants and sodium hypochlorite, a replacement for liquid bleach are used for cleaning, and swab tests are conducted periodically to study and check the growth of pathogens and micro organisms. “The expenses are increasing by each year as our services are offered free of cost. We have been able to sustain the services through donor contributions alone,” Sekar says.

Those who wish to participate in the fundraiser or support the Foundation can contact Sekar Viswanathan at 93800 22773 or [email protected]

The fundraiser begins at 9.30 a.m.

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