
17 Jun 2021
The second wave of Coronavirus put tremendous strain on healthcare infrastructure as the number of patients rose rapidly. Hospital beds, oxygen cylinders, ventilators and other necessary medical equipment and facilities were in short supply and people were often travelling great distances in the hope of getting medical support.
While the Government was taking several steps to increase and strengthen existing healthcare infrastructure, CII, CII Foundation, and affiliates stepped in to augment existing Covid-care facilities.
Working closely with the State Governments and District Administrations to assess the needs, CII mobilised contributions and assistance and is undertaking extensive healthcare infrastructure support by setting up make-shift Covid Care Centres, expanding Covid-ICUs, converting general wards into Covid wards, setting up Tele-ICUs, and installing oxygen plants and pipelines across the country.
So far 11 Covid-care Centres have been set up. The key Centres are:
Second Line Covid Treatment Centre, Ernakulam, Kerala: To strengthen the Covid-care facilities in the State, a fully equipped 500- bed Covid Second Line Treatment Centre at Adlux Convention Centre, Angamaly, Ernakulam has been set up by CII Kerala with the support of the Government of Kerala. The Centre was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan on 31 May 2021. The facilities at the Centre include oxygen concentrators, defibrillators, X–ray GE, multipara monitors, cots, beds and other essentials. It also has separate wards for male and female patients.
The Centre is being supported by organizations such as Infosys Foundation, US Technology International, IBS Software, Muthoot Fincorp, Eastern Condiments Pvt Ltd, Federal Bank Ltd, Synthite Industries Pvt Ltd, Kancor Ingredients Ltd, Suntec Business Solutions Pvt Ltd and ESAF Small Finance Bank Ltd. The District Administration led by Mr Suhas S, District Collector, Ernakulam, National Health Mission and Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Medical College provided valuable guidance while Adlux Convention Centre provided the Convention Centre free of cost.
Gurugram Covid Care Centre, Haryana: A 200-bed Covid-care Centre has been set up in Gurugram, and was inaugurated on 16 May by Sri Manohar Lal Khattar, Chief Minister, Haryana. This Centre provides free of cost services to patients and is well-equipped with oxygen cylinders and other medical equipment necessary for treating Covid patients. The Centre was operationalised with the efforts of CII, Indian Air Force, M3M, Young Business Leaders Forum (YBLF) of Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA) and NGO Doctors for You. Medical assistance is being provided by Doctors for You, which is also managing this facility, guided by the Civil Surgeon, Gurugram. The Centre is supported by CLP India, Sona Comstar, Dabur, Polymed Group and several members of YBLF and CII Haryana.
Government Medical College, Trivandrum: Two wards of the Government Medical College have been converted into a 100 bed Covid Intensive Care Unit to help strengthen the healthcare infrastructure in Trivandrum. This initiative is being facilitated by CII Foundation with support from Pratiksha Trust, Shibulal Family Philanthropic Initiative and Tamara Leisure and Hospitality. Medical supplies and equipment are being provided by CII Foundation at this Centre, which is well-equipped with necessary Covid care facilities.
To learn more about CII’s Covid relief initiatives, visit: www.ciicovid19update.in