NRI doctor donates her life savings to Guntur Government Hospital

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Setting an inspiring precedent, Indian American Dr. Uma Devi Gavini donated all her life’s savings, worth around Rs 20 crore, to her alma mater, the Guntur Medical College (GMC) in Andhra Pradesh. A native of Guntur, Dr. Gavini graduated from the GMC in 1965 and moved to the United States to specialise in immunology and allergy. Her donation of Rs 20 crore will be used towards setting up a new bloc for the 600-bed mother and child care unit that the Guntur Medical College Alumni Association of North America (GMCANA) has promised to their people. An active member of GMCANA she never lost touch with her Alma Mater, and has helped the GMC in various capacities.

The doctor announced the decision to donate the money during an alumni meet held in Texas earlier this month. According to reports, although the board members of GMCANA wanted to put her name on the to-be-constructed Mother and Child Hospital, Dr. Gavini refused the proposal. She agreed to name the MCH after her husband, Dr. Kanuri Ramachandra Rao, who passed away three years ago. “Dr. Uma Devi is one of the most down-to-earth people I have ever met. She has always been very involved in the association’s work, especially in constructing and developing various healthcare facilities,” GMCANA chief coordinator Bala Bhaskar told an English daily.

Appreciating her gesture, former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N Chandrababu Naidu, tweeted, “Chandrababu Naidu, “A heartwarming news. I appreciate Dr. Uma Gavini Garu’s generous gesture of donating her wealth to Guntur Medical College’s MCCU. Her invaluable contribution will have an exponential impact and inspire many to share their resources for the greater good (sic).”

Inspired by her, many other Indian American medical professionals, including Dr. Surapaneni Krishnaprasad and Dr. Movva Venkateshwarlu also decided to donate Rs 8 crore and Rs 20 crore to the same hospital, respectively.

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