MAHE is a truly inspiring place, says Rahul Dravid

Manipal: Prior to launching the Arogya Card scheme at Mangaluru, Rahul briefly visited Kasturba Hospital and Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal in the morning and was impressed with the facilities and opportunities. “It is truly an inspiring place. The facilities and opportunities that exist in this environment are limitless. This is what the young minds today are looking for,” he said and added, “It is truly a place of learning and truly a place where the future of India is going to be built from”.

In the near-three hours he spent at the Hospital and the University, he inaugurated departments of Geriatrics and Fetal Medicine at Kasturba Hospital,   visited the Health Sciences Library and met the Chancellor Dr Ramdas M Pai and University officials. Pro Chancellor, Dr H.S. Ballal, Vice Chancellor, Dr H Vinod Bhat and other officials were present. Before departing for Mangaluru, he interacted with students at the indoor sports complex and launched the theme for the 2020 Manipal Marathon, “Run for Organ Donation”.

At the inauguration of the hospital departments, Dr Manjunath Hande head general medicine and Dr Akhila Vasudev unit head OBG gave an overview of the Geriatrics and Fetal Medicine departments.   Mr C.G. Muthanna COO welcomed the gathering and Medical Superintendent, Dr Avinash Shetty gave the vote of thanks. Dr Sudarshan Ballal, Chairman MHEPL said, “It’s really great that Manipal is really associated with Rahul as there a many things in common with this complete cricketer, he said”.

“Manipal has been the hospital of my choice,” Rahul said.  “I have also been lucky to interact and see for myself what so many of you have been doing in different areas. I am glad to inaugurate geriatric and fetal the two departments which are at the two ends of the spectrum and I congratulate all of you for the wonderful work being done in Manipal,” he added.

At the indoor sports complex Marena he interacted with a few hundred students who were keen to get all they wanted to know from ‘The Wall’ first hand. He took questions from how he got to playing cricket to whether education is more important than sport or vice versa and how difficult it was to do well in one-dayers after having been a Test player basically, the selection of Indian team for upcoming World Cup and others. He also launched the theme for 2020 Manipal Marathon “Run for organ donation” before concluding the day at Manipal.