The newly established centre, launched as a joint initiative of Manipal Academy of Higher Education and Chellaram Foundation, has been specially designed to provide safe accommodation and supportive care for children undergoing Bone Marrow Transplant procedures. Such treatments require highly controlled, hygienic, and secure environments because patients often suffer from severely compromised immunity during treatment and recovery.
The inauguration ceremony took place at the MAHE Campus in Manipal and was presided over by Dr. H. S. Ballal, Pro-Chancellor of Manipal Academy of Higher Education. Dr. Ashok Gavande, Philanthropy India Lead at Chellaram Foundation, Mumbai, attended as the Chief Guest, while Dr. Anand Venugopal, Chief Operating Officer of Manipal Academy of Higher Education, was the Guest of Honour.
Several senior medical and institutional leaders were present at the event, including Dr. Avinash Shetty, Medical Superintendent of Kasturba Hospital, Manipal; Dr. Anil K. Bhat, Dean of Kasturba Medical College, Manipal; Mr. Harinarayan Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of Manipal Foundation; Dr. Vasudeva Bhat K., Professor and Head of the Department of Pediatric Oncology at Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, MAHE, Manipal; Mr. Girish Nair, Founder and Chairman of Access Life Assistance Foundation; and Mr. Ankeet Dave, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Access Life Assistance Foundation.
The new facility consists of 10 dedicated residential units aimed at supporting underprivileged families travelling long distances for advanced cancer treatment. The centre marks Access Life’s second collaboration with Manipal Academy of Higher Education and reflects a growing commitment towards holistic paediatric cancer care that extends beyond hospital treatment.
The initiative has also received support from Chellaram Foundation, an international non-profit organisation focused on long-term philanthropic initiatives in healthcare, education, humanitarian aid, and child welfare.
Speaking on the collaboration, Chellaram Foundation stated that Access Life Foundation has built a deeply compassionate and highly organised support system for children and families battling cancer. The foundation noted that Access Life’s work goes beyond providing accommodation by creating dignity, stability, and hope for families during extremely difficult phases of treatment. It further stated that every contribution made towards the organisation’s mission results in meaningful and long-term impact.
Dr. H. S. Ballal said that MAHE has always believed healthcare extends beyond medical treatment and includes emotional and social support for patients and families. Referring to the vision of MAHE founder Dr. TMA Pai, he stated that compassionate and accessible healthcare should reach every section of society. He added that MAHE was pleased to support the initiative by providing space for the centre free of rental charges, helping create a safe and caring environment for children undergoing Bone Marrow Transplant treatment.
Dr. Ballal further stated that the collaboration reflects MAHE’s broader commitment towards humane healthcare, where medical excellence is combined with social and family support systems. He emphasised that facilities such as these significantly reduce the burden on families while helping children continue treatment and recovery with dignity.
Access Life Founder and Chairman Girish Nair described the second centre at Manipal Academy of Higher Education as another major milestone in the organisation’s mission to ensure that no child abandons cancer treatment due to accommodation, nutrition, transportation, or distance-related challenges.
He expressed gratitude to MAHE for once again extending support by providing the facility space free of cost and acknowledged Chellaram Foundation for supporting the initiative and strengthening the vision of holistic childhood cancer care.
Nair revealed that since the launch of Access Life’s first 12-unit centre in Manipal in April 2022, nearly 350 beneficiaries have received support. He added that the second centre would help many more underprivileged families complete treatment and recovery in a safe, family-friendly, and supportive environment.
Dr. Vasudeva Bhat K., Professor and Head of the Department of Pediatric Oncology at Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, MAHE, Manipal, stated that the new centre would further strengthen efforts to reduce treatment abandonment and refusal among children suffering from cancer and serious blood disorders. He said the facility addresses social and logistical barriers that frequently disrupt continuity of care and supports the institution’s goal of providing complete holistic treatment.
Established in 2014, Access Life supports children from economically weaker backgrounds undergoing cancer treatment by providing free accommodation, nutrition, transportation, counselling, and non-formal education for patients and caregivers travelling from across India to major treatment centres. The organisation currently operates 14 centres across 10 cities and can support up to 228 families simultaneously. Registered under 80G, 12A, CSR-1, and FCRA provisions, Access Life has supported more than 10,500 beneficiaries across the country.
Manipal Academy of Higher Education, recognised as an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, offers more than 400 specialisations across health sciences, management, law, humanities, social sciences, technology, and science streams through campuses in Manipal, Mangalore, Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, and Dubai. Ranked third in the National Institutional Ranking Framework 2025 rankings, MAHE continues to strengthen its position as one of India’s leading higher education and healthcare institutions.
The launch of the new Bone Marrow Transplant support centre in Manipal highlights the growing importance of integrated healthcare support systems in paediatric cancer treatment, ensuring that financial hardship, accommodation difficulties, and logistical challenges do not become barriers to life-saving medical care for children.
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