Where technology meets humanity: IBM donates healthcare amenities in anticipation of third wave

As the threat of the impending third wave looms larger with each passing day, organizations and governments across the globe are shoring up their defenses and preparing for a critical showdown. With the situation dire in most countries left crippled by the first two waves, corporates have been doing their bid too; donating medical supplies and critical healthcare equipment, setting up mobile medical care centers, and distributing PPE kits. Tech giant IBM has come through and provided healthcare facilities in three Indian states.

India has come off a little worse for wear after two waves of the deadly coronavirus. Its healthcare infrastructure was tethering on the edge of total collapse during the worse parts of the pandemic. As part of its CSR activity, IBM has partnered with Nasscom Foundation to deliver healthcare amenities as part of India’s preparations against the third wave.

Where technology meets humanity

Pediatric ICU beds and concentrators are part of the medical equipment being provided to the three states of Karnataka, Haryana, and Uttarakhand. At present, these three states will form the focus of IBM’s initiative which will later be re-evaluated if the third wave hits. In case such a calamity befalls India, IBM will look to extend its CSR efforts to other Indian states as well.

As part of its program with the Nasscom Foundation, 45 pediatric ICU beds were set up in CV Raman General Hospital and Sevashram Hospital in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The potential risk to children from the third wave cannot be ignored and hence, the preparations. Another 122 oxygen concentrators and 125 flow meters have also been installed in Cantonment General Hospital in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. At the Faridabad District Hospital and Community Health Centre, Haryana, IBM established an oxygen generation plant of 200 liters per minute (LPM) capacity. It also made provisions for nine ICU beds, four regular hospital beds, five high-flow nasal cannula, and 191 flow meters.

Commenting on the initiative, Manoj Balachandran, IBM India, and South Asia Head-CSR said, “While a lot of relief like oxygen cylinders was coming in to address the immediate short term need, we decided to work on mid to long term requirements with the state governments. All that we are doing now is obviously trying to be prepared for the third wave, hoping against hope that the third wave is not going to be as severe as the earlier one,” he concluded.

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