World Polio Day, let’s salute the bird doctors and remember the services of birds,tirupati.
Bird services for polio patients
90,589 polio patients were operated in Bird Hospital.
- Bird doctors went to many parts of the country and organized camps and performed operations on 11448 people in those parts.
- Number of patients screened through polio screening camps: 83,173
- Identified as requiring operation: 73,539
- Equipment like shoes received by Bird : 9466
Bird (Balaji Institute of Surgery, Research, and Rehabilitation for the Disabled) in Tirupati once lit up like a beacon of hope for those crippled not only physically but also mentally by polio. Hundreds of disabled people from all over the country used to be seen in this premises. After surgery and physiotherapy, they used to walk with artificial legs and go to villages with increased self-confidence. No matter where they came from in the country, they would give them accommodation, give them food, perform an operation and send them away. Everything is free here. Many trains coming to Tirupati used to feature children crippled by polio. The bird is the hospital where late Chief Minister Nandamuri Tarakarama Rao came to life in Thirupati. It was started in 1985 under the auspices of TTD for the poor. In 1994 Bird was formed as a trust and served nationwide. Due to the drastic measures taken by the governments with the polio vaccine, the disease has almost been eradicated. Not a single case of polio has been reported in ten years. With this Bird expanded into other medical services. Focused on knee and hip replacement treatments. Many doctors have served with Bird’s spirit of service. Both the names come to everyone’s mind when they say bird. Under the leadership of Vyagheshwara and Jagadish, Bird services were received nationwide. On World Polio Day, let’s salute the bird doctors and remember the services of birds.
abut Dr Jagadish
Dr. Jagdish Bird served as Director (1993-2019). He used to travel to many parts of the country and provide medical services. About 90,000 operations, including polio, were performed under his leadership.