Karwar: Ananthamurthy Hegde Charitable Trust, a group of like-minded activists, recently wrapped up a 140 km padayatra from Sirsi to Karwar, emphasizing the longstanding demand for a multi-specialty hospital in Uttara Kannada district. Commencing on November 2 in Sirsi, the padayatra aimed to draw the government's attention to the pressing need for advanced medical facilities in the region.

Over the course of eight days, the activists traversed 120 villages along the highway, raising awareness about the necessity of a multi-specialty hospital in Uttara Kannada.

Ananthamurthy Hegde highlighted that residents can only receive treatment for minor ailments locally, forcing them to travel to neighboring districts for critical medical care. In emergency situations, patients often have to be transported to Hubballi, nearly 100 km away, or Mangaluru, which is 250 km away, resulting in the loss of countless lives over the years. The urgency of establishing two medical colleges in the district for the convenience of the predominantly poor and middle-class population, he added.

At the conclusion of the padayatra on Thursday, a gathering at the DC office in Karwar put forth the suggestion to establish the multi-specialty hospital in Kumta or another medical college in the upper ghat area.