Bracing For The 3rd Wave: Telerad Foundation and RxDx Healthcare expand COVID-19 healthcare services for rural populations and blue-collar workers
BENGALURU, India, Sept. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- India witnessed one of the worst of COVID-19 during the 2nd wave. Ever since then, country is bracing up at different levels to deal with a possible 3rd wave. eAarogyaKendra, the comprehensive community tele healthcare program operated by the Telerad Foundation and RxDx Healthcare with the support of AkzoNobel India in several villages of Hoskote taluk in Bengaluru Rural District, has further stepped up its efforts to provide relief, care and treatment to community members suffering or recovering from COVID-19. These full-functioning, telehealth-enabled centres offer a wide range of diagnostic services, primary and specialist consultations, medication dispensation, and public awareness campaigns on multiple health, hygiene, and sanitation topics. They serve nearly 12,000 residents in ten villages nearby, and many residents of adjoining areas also benefit from their presence.
On June 28, AkzoNobel India through Telerad Foundation has donated ten oxygen concentrators, fifty pulse oximeters, and two hundred humidifiers, with a set of accessories each, to supplement the existing equipment at the two eAarogyaKendra centres in Hoskote, Bengaluru (R).
On the national level, the Telerad Foundation launched the AarogyaSakha COVID Helpline serving commercial painters associated with Dulux Paints, and their families, a population of about 15 lakh people. The Helpline provides guidance and practical assistance on vaccinations, CoWIN registration and usage, appointment scheduling, and post-vaccination support. For COVID-positive patients, the Helpline facilitates regular doctor consultations over the telephone or via WhatsApp as per the patient's preference; paediatric consultation; daily monitoring of vital signs; prescriptions and medications; mental health counselling; and physical therapy advice during recovery.
"AarogyaSakha COVID Helpline has been a boon for me and my family members," says Firoz, a painter from outskirts of Patna, Bihar. "When I got the symptoms, at first, I didn't take it seriously. When the symptom escalated in 3 days and my contractor learnt about this, he asked me to isolate immediately and call the helpline without wasting any more time. AarogyaSakha organised my consultation with Dr Dixit. He treated me for over 10 days. The nurse sister called be twice daily to check my fever and other vitals. I am grateful to AarogyaSakha for saving my life and for guiding me and my family to isolate properly and helping other members of my family to get vaccinated at the hospital near our house."
Dr Sunita Maheshwari, founder of RxDx Healthcare, notes that the second wave has impacted rural communities significantly - by May, over 50% of all new cases were in rural areas. Rural vaccination rates trail those in urban areas, and access to healthcare is key to controlling the spread and aiding recovery. Personnel on the ground have been much heartened by AkzoNobel India's support for medical care, telehealth services and the COVID-19 Helpline to drive CoWIN registration, accelerate vaccination and deliver post-vaccine assistance.
About the Telerad Foundation
Telerad Foundation is a global healthcare organisation established with a mission to advance healthcare for everyone, everywhere - regardless of their geography and economic status. The foundation was established in 2007 and in the initial years, the activities were focused towards providing Teleradiology services to charity-run hospitals in remote rural areas. Since then, it has expanded into e-health implementation services encompassing Telemedicine, Telehealth Education, and Artificial Intelligence.
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