330-bed COVID Healthcare Infrastructure Developed in Karnataka In this recent wave of the COVID pandemic, several metropolises were inundated with a large number of cases; something which even their comparably better healthcare infrastructure could not cope with. One such city in India was Bengaluru, which at its peak had over 3 lakh active cases. This sudden explosion of cases, coupled with a high positivity rate of 55%, had led to a crippling shortage of beds, medicines and oxygen availability. Augmenting the COVID Healthcare Landscape After creating a 200 bed COVID infrastructure within a short time span in Dharampur, South Gujarat, Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care helped in the healthcare infrastructure development of Karnataka by establishing facilities of over 330 beds, spread across four centres: A 120-bed facility at the premises of Canadian International School, Yelahanka, Bengaluru to be managed by Cytecare Hospital. It was virtually inaugurated by Pujya Gurudevshri. A 80-bed Shrimad Rajchandra COVID Care Centre at Mulbagal in Kolar district. A 70-bed centre in association with One Billion Literates Foundation in Anekal-Jigani area on the outskirts of Bengaluru, with a predominant population comprising of industrial workers and daily wagers. A 61-bed Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care COVID Care Centre in Gadag, North Karnataka, in association with K H Patil Pratisthana, which was virtually inaugurated by Pujya Gurudevshri. At the centres, a chitrapat of Param Krupalu Dev has been placed. Three of the centres were set up in association with Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), a high-quality support network of 14,000+ like-minded leaders across 61 countries; Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care being its Platinum Partner. These centres will nurse moderately ill COVID patients by providing required treatment, oxygen support and clinical supervision, which in turn will free up hospital beds for the seriously ill patients. The services at the centres will include oxygen concentrators, 24×7 monitoring by doctors and support staff, a COVID testing laboratory, radiology and pharmacy services. Ambulance support for transfer to hospitals in case of ICU requirements has also been arranged. Some of the dignitaries at the launch of the centres included Dr C. N. Ashwath Narayan – Deputy Chief Minister, Karnataka; Shri S. Muniswamy – Member of Parliament, Kolar; Shri Arvind Limbavali – Minister for Forest, Karnataka; Shri H. Nagesh – MLA, Mulbagal; Shri S. R. Vishwanath – MLA, Yelahanka; Shri Gaurav Gupta, IAS – Chief Commissioner, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP); Shri Ramani Sastri – Chairman, Canadian International School; Shri Ferzaan Engineer – Chairman and Founder, Cytecare Hospital, amongst others. Expanding the Circle of Care Besides setting up infrastructure for COVID treatment, Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care volunteers in Bengaluru also set up a Cloud Kitchen through which over 25,000 people including doctors, medical staff and COVID patients were served meals and refreshments across hospitals. Over 14,000 COVID home quarantine kits were donated to BBMP through a tie-up with Samsung India. BiPAP machines and oxygen concentrators were also donated to hospitals. As the economy slowed down in wake of the lockdown, the daily wagers were in a quagmire again with fearful memories of last year’s lockdown still haunting them! Ration kits, which can sustain a family of four for a month, were distributed to over 1,000 daily wagers. Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care effectively collaborated with Government institutions and like-minded organisations to amplify the level of care in these devastating times. It was instrumental in channelising the noble intent and resources of a cross-section of supporters for the benefit of those affected by the pandemic. Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care continues to provide a holistic healthcare solution in the face of this global pandemic through timely treatment to COVID patients and support to the marginalised communities.
