Help Provide Covid-19 Care in the Tribal District of Gadchiroli

Being an underprivileged, tribal-dominated district, Gadchiroli is 175 km from the city of Nagpur. There is a lack of access to reliable, scientific, cost-effective and culturally-appropriate healthcare. Especially in the epidemic of Covid-19, there is a huge shortage of heath care facilities for testing as well as treatment. In the tribal tehsil of Dhanora, on the Easternmost boundary of Maharashtra and 1000 km from Mumbai, where SEARCH hospital is situated, there are no other facilities even for quick RTPCR testing for the detection of Covid-19 cases.  

The Community Hospital set up by SEARCH in Dhanora tehsil of Gadchiroli district provides primary and select secondary and tertiary care to 50,000 tribal and rural patients annually, living in 2500 villages in Gadchiroli and adjoining districts. 

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, in addition to providing speciality care like Gynaecology, Psychiatry, Medicine and Surgery, the SEARCH hospital has started providing Covid-19 care through indoor admissions and ICU support. The hospital also has dedicated Rapid Antigen Testing and RTPCR Testing facilities which give results as swiftly as within an hour thereby aiding quick detection, isolation and treatment.

With Covid-19 cases and associated mortality rising in the district, there is an increasing need of early health interventions. The testing and the hospital care costs and SEARCH is seeking support for the same. 

We have also begun providing ambulance service to suspected and diagnosed patients from various villages thereby making it easy for them to reach the medical facility of their choice.

Total RTPCR or Antigen tests done so far = 1150, Total positive = 194

Total Covid-19 patients admitted in the hospital and given care so far = 154

SEARCH hospital has also been recognized as a COVID vaccination centre and has started vaccine operations from 3rd May 2021. 

We plan to continue to provide rapid testing facilities for the patients coming to our hospital, increase the beds dedicated for Covid-19 indoor admissions and be a sustained vaccination unit. 

Quick and on-demand accessibility to ambulance service for suspected and diagnosed COVID patients in various villages of the district.