With the inauguration of the Daulatbanoo Merwan Khodadad Irani Dialysis Centre on September 14, 2019 in Dr Meckwan’s Sheetal Nursing Home in Dahanu, patients will no more have to travel to nearby cities like Bombay or Valsad for treatment. Dahanu town has a population of 50,287 as per the 2011 census and is located about 140 km north of Bombay. The cost of the project was borne by Manijeh and Minoo Irani (Rs 14 lakhs, for two machines) and senior lawyer Ervad Burjor Antia (seven lakh rupees for one machine), acknowledges an email sent to Parsiana by Antia.
(Top) Ervad Burjor Antia inaugurating Dahanu’s dialysis center as wife Roshan looks on;
(above) Manijeh and Minoo Irani: Easing patients’ travel travails
At the inauguration of the Centre, Minoo said that he and Manijeh were following in the footsteps of Merwan Irani, Manijeh’s father, "who was a pioneer in Dahanu by bringing water, electricity and education for poor children.” Besides English, Hindi and Marathi schools in the town, Merwan had also established a home for indigent leprosy patients. Antia, who was the chief guest at the inauguration, emphasized the importance of good health. "One should adopt a simple, humble and straightforward way of life in thinking as well as in food,” he noted. The audience included Dahanu mayor Bharat Rajput, chairman and chief executive officer of service provider Quality Care Dialysis Group Suresh Vasu who came specially from the US to attend this event, and leading doctors, lawyers and businessmen of the town.
"Manijeh and Minoo Irani took a firm decision to see that a dialysis centre was opened in Dahanu” on hearing of the travails of local patients in commuting to other cities for treatment, especially for family friend Anjana Bhatt, wrote Antia. A meeting with chief executive officer of Bombay’s Masina Hospital Dr Vispi Jokhi and Dr Sunil Nair, director of Quality Care Dialysis Private Limited ensued and a budget of Rs 21 lakhs was prepared, he noted.