Help to Covid Patients through Covid Care Unit

Posted on Monday, August 2, 2021

Shramik Abhivrudhi Sangh (SAS), commonly known as Jana Jagaran, is a social action wing of the Goa Jesuit Province. Drawing its inspiration from Pope Francis who speaks of SEE-JUDGE-ACT as the Foundational Approach during any crises, SAS with the help of the sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, started a covid Care Unit (CCU) at Cardinal Gracias Hospital Belagavi, Karnataka. Soon the 10 bedded CCU became insufficient. As the demand increased, 15 more beds were added and the CCU admitted up to 28 patients. Among the many covid patients was a young widow Mallavva, with an oxygen level of 41 percent. The CCU did not have the necessary equipment to manage a patient with such a low oxygen level. Mallavva, being extremely poor had no choice of getting admitted elsewhere. If the CCU were to refuse to take her in, she would return home and breathe her last. She was admitted. The first 3 days saw the tug of war between life and death. Then she slowly improved and was discharged after 12 days in good condition. The CCU served her and many others like her - 84 in-patients and 424 out-patients by the end of June.

The 2nd wave of covid-19 seems to have passed. Let us pray that we wouldn’t have a 3rd wave. Thanks to our Jesuits in Germany (Jesuiten Mission), the Cardinal Gracias Hospital will get a brand new Oxygen Plant.