On monday 19th December, The Greater Chennai Corporation, Rotary Club of Madras East (RCME) and Tamilnad Kidney Research Foundation (TANKER Foundation) joined hands in reaching out to the needy in Chennai city through the expansion of the existing facility at Nungambakkam from 4 machines to 10 machines.This dialysis unit will serve 60 underprivileged kidney failure patients who will get free dialysis. The machines have been donated by the Chennai Corporation, RCME, The Chennai Silks, M/s. Athena Health Technology Pvt Ltd, a group of transplant patients who collected donations for Dr. Georgi’s (TANKER’S Founder Trustee) birthday and TVR Foundation. The unit was inaugurated by actor Sri R. S. Suriya,TANKER's Goodwill Ambassador at the Chennai Corporation Diagnostic Center, Valluvar Kottam.

Mr.R.S.Suriya, Actor and TANKER's Goodwill Ambassador said that he had been associated with TANKER for over 11 years and was happy to be associated with them.He also applauded the Chennai Corporation and the Rotary Club of Madras East for joining hands with TANKER in one of the first Public Private and NGO parnerships in Chennai and urged that more such units be set up to serve the needy in Tamilnadu. He deeply appreciated the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance which was helping the underpriveleged in having access to high quality treatment.Along with treatment it was important to prevent disease by making life style changes.He urged the gathering to eat right and exercise regularly and that people over thirty should regularly check their Bp and blood for early detection of kidney disease.

Mrs.Latha Kumaraswami Managing Trustee,TANKER Foundation gave an update about TANKER.So far almost 2 lakh dialysis had been done for 933 patients and 1.66 crores had been given for medication and investigations for 2640 patients.760 awareness programmes had been conducted reaching out to 1.15 lakh people and 220 screenimg camps had benefitted 20000 people.Rtn.Ananth,President Rotary Club of Madras East also spoke of their activities and the Winners Bakery project that they were associated with.Rtn.Narayanan of RCME spoke of the team effort by all three parties and that they wanted to be involved with many more such projects.Rtn.Purushotham proposed the vote of thanks.