The Voluntary Health Services (VHS) Multispeciality Hospital, Taramani, on Oct.24, inaugurated a major new facility: the Smt. Jayalakshmi and Sri. R. Narasimhan Vision Rehabilitation Centre and the Smt. Andal and Sri. N.P. Narayanan Activities Centre for the Visually Challenged.
The ceremony at the Modulus Housing Complex was presided over by VHS President Padma Bhushan N. Gopalaswami, IAS (Retd), with Prof. V. Kamakoti (Director, IIT Madras) as the chief guest. The centres were established with the generous support of Hema Raghavan, N. Raghavan and family.
These centres mark a significant shift from medical treatment to holistic life empowerment for individuals with visual impairment. Services include Independent Living Skills, Mobility Training, and Vocational Rehabilitation.
Dr. S. Parathasarathy, HOD Ophthalmology, VHS, emphasised that the goal is to offer “vital hope and practical skills” to patients previously told that “nothing more can be done” medically, enabling them to “live a full, independent, and inclusive life.” The centre will serve patients from community outreach and external hospitals seeking specialised rehabilitation.
