Sunday, 18th of March was a red letter day for us. We handed over a cheque of INR 1,90,000 raised for our maiden fund raising campaign – Vision Ventilator (Ekam foundation has graciously accepted to fund the balance amount required for the ventilator). This amount will go into donating a refurbished ventilator to the the Chengelpet Children’s Government Hospital. This is SIFI’s first step towards directly bettering the lives of many.
Gathered at the Conference Hall at the Neonatal Care section of the Egmore Children’s Government Hospital were not only the members running SIFI, but also a few donors and well-wishers. This hospital holds the distinction of being Asia’s largest children’s hospital – 560 beds capacity. At any given point of time, the bed occupancy rate is 110%. We were greeted by Dr. Sailakshmi, the founder of Ekam Foundation, the NGO in whose association we carried out Vision Ventilator. We were informed about the story behind genesis and progress of Ekam, their initial challenges and their operation model. A brief introduction to SIFI and reasons for executing Vision Ventilator were also discussed.
Dr. Sailakshmi took us around the neonatal wing and explained the uses and importance of different life saving drugs and medical instruments. She added with pride that 3 nurses who have been trained by Ekam have been deputed to serve in this hospital, and since then, the mortality rate has been declining. She also reiterated the need for high technology equipments as it is extremely challenging for a mother to pump air, continuously for many hours. It is also impossible to inject very small doses of medicine, as low as 0.4mg once in a few hours. Hence, there is an inevitable need to closely monitor such activities that are made simpler by machines. There are three categories of patients – term cases, pre term cases that are relatively stable, and pre term cases that are critical. Each case entails a unique set of procedures, while the most frequent cases are jaundice, ailments arising out of infection and respiratory troubles.
We were then guided to the hospital’s cancer ward. We got to see the lab that has advanced medical technology to detect the nature and extent of cancer through blood tests. The lab equipment had been donated by a Japanese company a few years ago. The cancer ward had colourful paintings on its walls and a colour TV for entertainment. It also housed a small play area where volunteers and the public came to play with cancer patients.
At the end of the hospital visit, SIFI handed over the cheque for Vision Ventilator to Dr. Sailakshmi, who thanked us for our efforts. ‘It feels great to know that young people are coming forward to help us in our mission’ she said. Vaishnavi, one of our well-wishers opined ‘I got to know a lot through this hospital visit. The kind of work SIFI is doing is wonderful’. 
This marks the end of SIFI’s first sustainable social investment and the beginning of many such investments. Thanks for believing in us and supporting our efforts.
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Mission Vision Ventilator
Value of life is often undermined as we are overwhelmed by the routine of everyday activities. We often take life for granted, just carrying out mundane roles day after day. But if we took a moment to reflect on the meaning, purpose and value of life, we begin an insightful journey to the true essence of life itself. There is no doubt that few days to a dying person are more valuable and memorable than the same few days to a robust youth. He tries to live every moment to the fullest, understanding that his end is near. But not everyone has to have a sad ending. Miracles that rewrite destiny do happen. What if you want to be one such miracle; invested with the power to change lives of many who live to see their dreams accomplished? What if your investment made all the difference between life and death?
You can be all of this by investing with SIFI’s first fund raising campaign - VisionVentilator. Through this campaign, SIFI seeks to raise INR 2.5 Lakhs to purchase and donate a ventilator to the Government hospital in Chengelpet district (Tamil Nadu).
What is a ventilator?
A ventilator is a medical instrument that supports the life of a patient, typically infants by providing sufficient oxygen for proper functioning of lungs. Generally used on seriously ill patients, it reduces the risk of death to a great extent.
Why donate money for a ventilator?
Most government hospitals lack necessary funds to buy a ventilator and resort to renting old, dilapidated ones. The daily rent charges vary from Rs 750/- to Rs 1,500/-. Due to its high cost, many patients are denied their right to imperative healthcare and right to life. These ventilators are used in the Neo-natal ICUs, and without them, the mothers have to use manual bagging machines, which means that if they are not very careful, the pressure exerted may be a little more or less that may prove to be fatal to the newborn.
We believe that funding a ventilator will save many lives and will make sustainable impact.
1. Cost – effective (investment of INR 2.5 lacks one time vis-a-vis hiring it multiple times)
2. Potential to save more lives (available 24×7 with the hospital)
3. Bridging the ‘gap’ by working with the System
Come, join us to breathe lives into people! Please contact us for any further details. You can transfer funds electronically, mail a cheque or donate in cash.
