Bringing life saving medical equipment to underserved rural communities in the Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka

ATREE has been working closely with the rural communities in the Chamarajanagar district for the past 25 years- to help improve livelihoods, contribute to sustainable development while conserving the forest environment.  

This new wave of COVID has ravaged these underserved rural communities. On May 3rd alone, 24 people died in 24 hours. Many of them died due to oxygen shortages in government hospitals in Chamarajnagar- and many of these deaths could have been prevented.

As part of our continuing engagement and outreach to these communities, we have partnered with the volunteer team of public health professionals working on the ground in Chamarajanagar District to work with district health administration and public health department to set up better critical hospital care facilities in the region.  

They have already: 

• Sourced and deployed c. 30 oxygen concentrators, and secured pledges for 30 more
• helped the District establish patient flow systems at the overburdened district/taluk hospitals, 
• Helped set up patient triage at various levels in district hospitals
• Established 9 Rural Covid Care Centres (CCCs) of 50 beds each (7 up and running)

But many patients still need life-saving medical equipment and in-patient accessories for dignified care at government hospitals

We will coordinate with other local NGOs and the district administration to buy the specific items that are needed by the community when the money comes in. This is because the situation is dynamic and changing from week to week.

At present this is the request:

• 3 doctor recommended self-cleaning toilets @$5,400 USD each ($16,300 USD total)
• PPE, medicines, masks, patient consumables, communications equipment, transportation costs, ambulance retrofits ($16,400 USD total)
• Oxygen support (mobile cylinders/ concentrators depending on what’s needed at the time the money comes in) ($8,200 USD Total)

Total funds required: $41,100 USD

Most immediately, these funds will help obtain and immediately deploy life-saving equipment and medicines first, at district and taluk hospitals, where pressure on the health infrastructure currently far outstrips capacity.

Further, these funds will help establish and equip 9 Rural Covid Care Centres such that reasonable care is available closer to home for people living in remote villages of this district. Doing this will also relieve pressure on the Taluk and District hospitals such that their facilities remain available to the most serious and needy patients.