Launch of Morning Nutrition for blind children in collaboration with FAI in Hyderabad, 20th July 2023
On 20th July, Annapoorna Trust started morning nutrition in collaboration with Light a Life – A First American (India) Foundation for 300 blind children at Devnar School for the Blind in Begumpet locality of Hyderabad.
The launch event was held in the presence of Dr. Saibaba Goud and his wife, Mrs. Jyothi Goud, and with Mrs. Padma – a warden, along with the teachers of the school. Mr. Sushanth Karanth – Manager of Corporate Communications, Mr. Dhananjaya Rao Ejapu – Regional Manager of Telangana state, and Mr. Rajesh Patel – Executive operations, were present from Annapoorna Trust.
Devnar School for the Blind is led by Dr. A. Saibaba Goud, who is an ophthalmologist and founder-chairman of the Devnar Foundation for the Blind. A Padma Shri awardee, Dr. Goud, has been honoured with many prestigious awards by six successive presidents of India including Dr. B.C.Roy award, and felicitated by Chief Ministers of states and political leaders. He has authored several books and presented several papers on eye-related subjects. Many paragraphs can be written about a man who has helped the blind lead productive lives, assisted the poor, the sick, and those afflicted with leprosy to live with dignity but all of them can be summed up in a short phrase – the passion to serve the needy.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Goud stressed on the importance of nutrition and the benefits of SaiSure Malt Multi Nutrient health mix which will be provided to the children with milk, on a daily basis. He thanked Annapoorna Trust and Light a Life – A First American (India) Foundation for having come forward to support the needy.
Mr. Sushanth Karanth – Manager of Corporate Communications, Annapoorna Trust, explained to the gathering that every child has the right to good health. ‘Keeping the needs of every child from economically weaker sections including those of rural and tribal backgrounds in mind, Annapoorna Trust has come up with a nutritious wonder product called SaiSure,’ he said. He also dealt in detail how a nutrition intervention like SaiSure Malt Multi Nutrient health mix provided to the growing children every day, takes care of hidden hunger. He went on further elaborating on the nutritional value of this health mix, which is loaded with vital nutrients and micronutrients including Fat-soluble vitamins (Vit. A, D, and E), and Water-soluble vitamins (Vit. C), B-complex vitamins (Vit. B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 & B12), along with minerals like calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, iodine, and selenium. This was explained with the intention of creating awareness among the children about the necessity to consume nutrient-dense food rather than junk food items.
The event concluded with the distribution of the health mix. The children relish the SaiSure drink in chocolate flavour and also spent quality time with all the Annapoorna representatives who engaged them in informal interactions. The children individually introduced themselves, and they shared about what they learned in their academics using braille. They also said they read the Braille version of Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Biography of freedom fighters like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Swami Vivekananda.
As the event ended, the children were motivated to partake in nutrition-dense SaiSure, and in turn, Annapoorna representatives were motivated by the children as well, for their relentless pursuit of thirst for knowledge despite their shortcomings. Thus, a day was spent very fruitfully with the lovely children.
