Small initiatives by NGOs and other organisations are offering relief to people’s livelihoods as states fight to reduce the impact of Covid on them. Aahwahan Foundation, a non-governmental organisation in collaboration with Infinera, Kurlon, Huawei, Citrix, and Pega System, is aiming to enhance people’s lives during these difficult times.
Speaking to NewsKarnataka, Braja Kishore Pradhan, Vice-President of Aahwahan Foundation said that, “This initiative is supported by approximately 500 volunteers. Since lockdown, we were able to provide 16,000 meals each day in Bengaluru. Frontline employees receive 4000 meals from this. The remaining 12,000 meals are distributed to the poor, government officials, daily wagers, Covid patients, the needy, and others. We were able to support around 6837 students in getting online classes and 1306 students in getting benefits by laptop bank programme.”
Braja emphasised that the team was able to arrange over 1000 oxygen cylinders and 500 oxygen concentrators to be distributed across private and public hospitals where they are most needed. All services are done free of cost. “In Bengaluru, we have arranged for 300 beds and a free temporary hospital have been established for the people. Since the rural people can’t afford most of the medical expenses, we have offered health kits such as oximeters, vitamin pills, thermometers and so on. We’ve started working with other companies to help with the vaccine drive. On June 15, we plan to launch a free mobile vaccination drive for low-income persons and students. We will offer it by traveling to different places and schools,” he added.
The team has been working to create awareness among local people on Covid care. For this, they focused on various taluks in rural Karnataka. “We’ve set up an isolation centre in the government taluk hospitals and schools for anyone who are experiencing symptoms and needs to get admitted. When people come to us with questions, we do a Rapid Antigen Test on them. We send the awareness messages to the Covid-hit people’s contact number in the regional languages so that they can understand,” said Braja.
The team has so far provided 20000 RT-PCR kits, 46000 groceries kit and 10 ICU beds. He went on to say that patients can now have access to 24×7 helpline support. “Patients can consult with over 100 doctors and receive free video, audio, and chat services as well as medications. Every alternate day, they will contact the Covid positive people and offer them advices,” he added.
The Aahwahan Foundation has launched a new project in partnership with Citrix, called “Health on Wheels,” which is a mobile medical hospital. It aims to assist people in rural areas by providing medical essentials to those who have limited access to hospitals or clinics. More than 10,000 people have been treated at mobile medical clinics.
Braja asks everyone to be extremely cautious and to leave the house if it is absolutely essential. Through its Covid activities, the organisation aims at providing comfort to many people’s lives.
