The fight against Covid is universal and ongoing. While several countries have managed to roll out a robust vaccination programme to curb the spread of infection, many others like India are struggling with a deadly second wave that has crippled the public health infrastructure. The thriving metropolis of Bangalore in India is a city of 12 million people but only has 4000 hospital beds available. In this time of crisis, it is important to establish public-private partnerships to address the ongoing challenges and find solutions.
Project CoHeal in Bangalore is a result of one such joint partnership that has helped turn a non-operational hospital building into a 100-bed Covid Care facility. QNET is proud to be a part of this initiative that provides free medical treatment and care to those who need it the most.
What Is Project CoHeal?
Project CoHeal was first started by a group of young entrepreneurs who were distraught by the tragedy unfolding around them due to a lack of medical oxygen. It began as an initiative to source and provide Oxygen Concentrators to patients in need. This idea evolved into wanting to provide a more sustainable solution to the local community.
“One of the things we wanted to look at when we were building the hospital is that it should run for at least one year not just for a month. In case there is a third wave we do not want to be reactive like how we did with the second wave. We have to be proactive. We have to be having the infrastructure ready, God forbid if a third wave comes,” says Amruta Desai, the Executive Director of Globals Inc, a Bangalore-headquartered technology firm that initiated Project CoHeal.
They joined hands with Presidency University and Rotary Club Manyata to transform the non-operational Rajiv Gandhi Medical Hospital in RT Nagar in Bangalore into a Covid Care facility. QNET India stepped in soon after to help scale the facilities offered with additional funding to procure Oxygen Concentrators, Ventilators for the ICU unit, and salaries for the staff.
Project CoHeal can treat up to 100 people at a time. This hospital serves patients in need, free of cost.
You can read all about them here – QNET In India Fights Covid.
How Is QNET Helping With The Fight Against Covid?
The support from QNET India, facilitated by our CSR arm RYTHM Foundation, to Project CoHeal in the first phase has helped procure four units of High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) Ventilators that are vital to ICU units of hospitals combating Covid. QNET has also covered 6-months’ worth of payroll for doctors and nurses who are working 3 shifts in the 24-hour facility.
Executive Director of Globals Amruta Desai says, “We are so thankful for this aid because one of the things we wanted to do was convert 15 high dependency units into ICUs. We are currently taking in mild to moderate cases of patients, but if these cases get critical, they may require ICU support and the use of ventilators. Now with this contribution, we have at least a minimum of 4 ICU beds that can be set up immediately.”
We hope that this effort in a time of need will give families a source of comfort, and serve as a symbol of hope for the community. We will keep you up to date on more of our projects to fight against covid throughout the year.
