Serum - Protection from birth onwards
Dr. Cyrus S. Poonawalla, Chairman, Serum Institute of India (SII) inaugurating the new school building of Indian Red Cross Society’s Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla School for Hearing Impaired at a new premise at Lulla Nagar in Pune, along with Dr. Vikram Pathak, Chairman, Indian Red Cross Society; Mr. Mabrin Nanavati, Vice Chairman, Indian Red Cross Society and other members of SII leadership team and the school community.
28 July 2025, Pune, India - Dr. Cyrus S. Poonawalla, Chairman, Serum Institute of India (SII), part of Cyrus Poonawalla group and the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, today inaugurated the grand new building of Indian Red Cross Society’s Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla School for Hearing Impaired at a new premise at ‘Centenary Centre’, Lulla Nagar, Pune. The newly built school is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and modern amenities for the hearing-impaired children. The Villoo Poonawalla Foundation (VPF) has given all forms of support to the school since it was established and has helped the school to improve its facilities, resources, and programs, providing students with a better learning environment.
Spread across a wide area, the newly inaugurated school is equipped with high-end technologies and designed in a manner to meet the unique needs of children with hearing impairments, offering a wide array of enhanced services and specialised support. This expansion reflects the school’s ongoing commitment of empowering the hearing community through specialised education and improved accessibility tailored to their specific needs. Run by ‘The Indian Red Cross Society’, Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla School for Hearing Impaired fosters a nurturing and encouraging environment to support inclusive and adaptive learning.
Expressing his delight at the inauguration of the newly built school, Dr. Cyrus S. Poonawalla, Chairman, Serum Institute of India said, “Providing better healthcare and support to children with special needs is a cause very close to my heart. Today, I feel deeply gratified to inaugurate this new school dedicated for the children with hearing-impairments. As an organization, our goal is to effectively utilize our resources to provide the best preventive solutions to the population, including children. This new building encompassing advanced infrastructure and modern facilities for the hearing-impaired children is a step towards the same direction.”
With Dr. Cyrus S. Poonawalla as the Chief Guest, the inaugural ceremony was attended by Dr Vikram Phatak, Chairman, Indian Red Cross Society, Mr. Mabrin Nanavati, Vice Chairman, Indian Red Cross Society, and Prof R.V. Kulkarni Hon. Secretary, Indian Red Cross Society, Pune, along with members of the SII leadership team and school community.
The School for the Hearing Impaired was established in 1976, with a vision of empowering children with hearing challenges. Over the decades, it has grown into a well-respected institution providing specialised education tailored to the needs of the hearing-impaired students. With a mission to empower the hearing community, the school continues to provide education in an accessible setting.
Dr. Cyrus S. Poonawalla, Chairman, Serum Institute of India (SII) inaugurating the new school building of Indian Red Cross Society’s Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla School for Hearing Impaired at a new premise at Lulla Nagar in Pune, along with Dr. Vikram Pathak, Chairman, Indian Red Cross Society; Mr. Mabrin Nanavati, Vice Chairman, Indian Red Cross Society and other members of SII leadership team and the school community.
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Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla School for Hearing Impaired (Indian Red Cross Society), Pune
Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla School for the Hearing Impaired is a school for children with hearing disabilities, run by the Indian Red Cross Society. The school provides education and support to children with hearing impairments, helping them to overcome their challenges and develop their skills and knowledge. Founded in 1976, Indian Red Cross Society's School for the Deaf, is a unique project of the Branch of the Indian Red Cross Society. The school is recognised as one of the top schools for the deaf in Pune. The school offers therapeutic intervention along with academic activities. The Villoo Poonawalla Foundation (VPF) has supported the Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla School for the Hearing Impaired through financial contributions and other forms of support. VPF's contribution has helped the school to improve its facilities, resources, and programs, providing students with a better learning environment. Villoo Poonawalla Foundation is happy to be a part of this autonomous body that relies on donations given by members and patrons in Pune to help them build their infrastructure and set up facilities to serve these children well.
www.villoopoonawallafoundation.org
About Serum Institute of India
Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., part of Cyrus Poonawalla Group is a global leader in vaccine manufacturing, dedicated to providing affordable vaccines worldwide. Present across 170+ countries, including the US, UK, and Europe, SII holds the distinction of being the world's largest vaccine manufacturer. SIIPL's multifunctional production and one-of-the-largest facilities in Hadapsar & Manjari, Pune, with an annual capacity of 4 billion doses, has saved over 30 million lives over the years.
Founded in 1966, SIIPL's primary mission is to produce life-saving immunobiological drugs, with a particular emphasis on affordability and accessibility. Guided by a strong commitment to improving global health, the company has played a pivotal role in reducing the prices of essential vaccines, such as Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, HIB, BCG, r-Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. Notably, they are the manufacturers of 'Pneumosiil,' the world's most affordable PCV, 'Cervavac' the first indigenous HPV vaccine in India, and R21/Matrix-M™, the second Malaria vaccine to be authorized for use in children in malaria-endemic regions, ‘MenFive’, the first in the world Pentavalent (ACYWX) Meningococcal Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine, approved and WHO-prequalified for use in the pediatric and adult population. Moreover, SIIPL has been at the forefront of the global fight against COVID-19, delivering over 2 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine worldwide.
To further expand its global presence and ensure widespread vaccine availability, SII has established Serum Life Sciences Ltd, a subsidiary in the UK and Serum Inc., a subsidiary in the US. Through relentless pursuit of innovation, SII continues to champion the cause of affordable vaccines, making a positive impact on the lives of millions worldwide.
www.seruminstitute.com
Media Contact
Serum Institute of India
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