Date:16/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/16/stories/2006081617700200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Lions Club to take up projects for senior citizens, spastic children

Staff Reporter

Chennai: Welfare projects for senior citizens, students, the differently-abled and HIV patients are the key programmes that the Lions Club District 324-A1 will take up in 2006 - 07. The projects are estimated to cost Rs. 30 crore

One of the special programmes that the new cabinet, headed by District Governor L. Shanth Kumar, will take up is for spastic children. They will be offered learning aids, health care and sports programmes. Similarly, HIV patients will receive anti retroviral drugs, nutritious food and counselling. Twelve patients with heart ailments would be helped with the surgery expenses, said Ahmed Sharif, who coordinates health programmes.

The Sight First campaign for eye care is an ongoing programme that the club will carry out at a cost of Rs. 10 crore. Slum adoption, diabetes management, road safety and road safety are the other projects on the anvil.

A senior citizen's home will be constructed at Koovathur near Mahabalipuram on the 1.5 acres donated by club member T. Bakthavatchalam.