Coimbatore: Non-governmental associations, volunteer groups and perhaps even political parties have put up helplines for those working from pillar to post in pursuit for ambulancesand hospital beds, air tanks and concentrators.A helpline set up by Communist Party of India (Marxist) from the district committee office in Gandhipuram is supplying information about empty beds in private and government associations, automobile support to transfer Covid patients to hospitals and running counseling sessions. “The percent of the population requiring oxygen service has improved and people are trying to locate beds at hospitals. As we had been getting several calls seeking help, we chose to establish a dedicated helpline and hired volunteers to handle it,” helpline planner K S Kanagaraj stated. The helpline is getting 40 to 50 calls daily, the majority of these about vaccine-related inquiries and advice concerning bed availability. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Together with Students Islamic Organization of India (SIO), turned Masjid ul Huda in Karumbukdai to a helpline center. The center is getting 1,000 calls daily, stated JIH youth wing president Abdul Hakkim. “A lot of these callers are both shocked and nervous after testing positive for Covid-19. They do not understand exactly what to do, whom to procedure or where to go to get therapy. To reduce their stress, we’ve been giving phone counselling with the support of physicians,” Hakkim advised TOI.A Covid helpline set up from the Coimbatore phase of Art of Living Foundation 10 days past is telling the general public about accessibility of beds and oxygen tanks and concentrators, also providing counselling sessions. Over 200 volunteers are operating for its initiative.The helpline is getting 100 calls per day, ” said Sasireka Venkatesh, a planner. “Many of these folks seek information regarding accessibility of beds and counseling sessions. Our volunteers telephone hospitals in regular periods to learn about accessibility of beds. We’re also likely to establish an air concentrator bank. We’ll provide the concentrators to hospitals which could rely on them deserving patients,” she explained.
Helplines Provide support to Locate beds at hospitals
