The foundation marked its 33rd Annual Charity and Awards Nite with a memorial lecture, recognition of excellence in nephrology and service and support announced for underprivileged dialysis patients
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The TANKER Foundation marked its 33rd Annual Charity and Awards Nite on January 25, 2026 underscoring over three decades of work in dialysis support, public awareness and research in nephrology.
The event opened with the Mr. Venkatesan & Mrs. Malathi Venkatesan Memorial Lecture — in memory of the late parents of Georgi Abraham, Founder Trustee of TANKER Foundation. The lecture was delivered by Jayashree Lakshminarayanan, a creative producer who has lived with chronic kidney disease (CKD) since the age of seven.
Welcoming the gathering, Dr. Georgi Abraham highlighted the growing burden of kidney disease in India and the acute shortage of nephrologists, particularly in underserved regions. He emphasised the importance of early detection through routine blood tests and blood pressure monitoring.
Managing Trustee Latha A. Kumaraswami said the need for dialysis services continues to rise. Founded in 1993, TANKER today operates 15 dialysis units across the State, providing nearly 10,000 dialysis sessions a month to over 900 patients.
She said the Foundation has delivered more than 8.45 lakh free and subsidised dialysis sessions, provided ₹5.23 crore in financial assistance, conducted over 1,500 awareness programmes and screened more than 52,000 individuals for early detection.
Chief Guest Antony Lobo, Honorary Consul of Spain in Chennai, described chronic kidney disease as a major public health concern and called for greater public and private sector support. The event announced one-year dialysis support for four underprivileged patients.
Published – January 27, 2026 05:30 am IST