Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) is one of the leading causes of death among children worldwide. Symptoms of SARI are similar to COVID-19 (fever, breathing issues, etc). Hence, these children have to be tested for COVID-19 and treated as possible COVID-19 cases until the test results are confirmed.
Due to the lack of isolation wards, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE’s) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) to treat them, many hospitals are refusing treatment to S.A.R.I symptomatic children. In addition, COVID 19 testing protocols including PPE’s have increased the cost of treatment substantially. This is making medical care unaffordable for children from poor families leaving them to make some very tough choices.
Choice Foundation in collaboration with Little Stars Children's Hospital, is ensuring that children suffering from SARI get timely and free access to treatment on par with the paying patient. The cost of treatment varies a lot based on the severity of the illness and treatment needed.
THE AVERAGE COST OF TREATMENT FOR ONE CHILD OVER 5-7 DAYS IS INR 1L.
INSIDE THE ISOLATION WARD
The hospital has converted its Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit (BMT) and ICU into a temporary 12 bed S.A.R.I isolation ward. The isolation ward is equipped with a dedicated X-ray machine, ventilators, and 24x7 monitoring equipment so that the patients need not leave the isolation ward. These patients will be treated here as per the Government of India mandated protocols until their COVID-19 test results are available. If tested positive for COVID-19, they will be shifted to the state government hospital for further treatment. If the results are negative, the hospital will continue their treatment and discharge them when fully recovered.
CASE STUDY
ABOUT ME
My name is KARTHIKEYA YARLAGADDA, I am 15 years old and in Grade 10 at the Aga Khan Academy.
Children from poor homes/orphanages etc with SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Illness) are finding it difficult to get treatment during the current COVID-19 situation. Hospitals think they have COVID-19 because of similar symptoms (fever, breathing issues, etc).
The Choice Foundation in partnership with The Little Star Hospital has worked to create a separate wing to help treat these children. The cost to treat them it involves medicines, consumables, COVID-19 testing protocols, and stay of parents (in case they are outstation children). Getting treatment for these children is a matter of life and death.
Let us come together and ensure that these children receive the best of treatment and are able to get treated by the best doctors at the Little Star Hospital.
ABOUT THE ORGANISATIONS
LITTLE STAR HOSPITAL
Little Stars Children’s Hospital is a 100-bed pediatric multi-super speciality hospital in Hyderabad, recognized by the DME, Telangana, and National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers [NABH], India. The hospital is privileged to have all the spectrum of pediatric subspecialty departments, and the following are some of the highly specialized & fully functional Pediatric Super Specialties:
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit with a state-of-the-art provision for three Negative
Pressure Pediatric Isolation ICU rooms with individual AHU.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with a separate Septic IC.
Pediatric Nephrology & Urology with a state-of-the-art provision for Pediatric Hemo-dialysis.
Pediatric Hematology & Oncology with a state-of-the-art provision for Bone Marrow Transplantation.
Pediatric Neurology ICU with a full-time Pediatric Neurologist.
CHOICE FOUNDATION
CHOICE Foundation, is a Not-for-Profit organization that strives to develop an ecosystem of doctors, donors, various NGOs supporting orphanages, facilitators and other charitable institutions to provide intensive care and emergency treatment to sick children coming from socio-economically challenged families. The foundation mission to empower children with good health, irrespective of their socio-economic status has led to the initiation of some successful programs. To date, 360 children whose families could not afford care have been supported by the foundation, many of whom were critically ill and could not afford life support at private hospitals.
MAP
TAX BENEFITS
Funding for this campaign is eligible for tax breaks as CHOICE FOUNDATION is a registered NGO & you can avail of benefits under section 80G of IT act. Foreign funding is accepted too.
FAQs
Will we get to know the details of who benefitted?
Yes. After the money has been collected it will be transferred by Fueladream to CHOICE FOUNDATION. We will update you on the details of the beneficiaries as soon as possible. Once we get this information we shall upload a report on the UPDATES section of this campaign. You will then get an alert & can read details about the beneficiaries.
When do I get the receipts?
The receipts will start getting processed about 4 to 6 weeks AFTER the campaign is closed and will be sent to you directly.
How does crowdfunding work?
Crowdfunding in India is a relatively new concept & is growing very quickly.
It’s a concept that allows a large number of funders (like you) to fund an idea or a cause or event by giving small amounts of money online. Fueladream.com is a crowdfunding platform in India that allows for such pooling of funds. You can fund innovations & ideas on FuelADream and be the first to get these products or make them come true. You can also do a good turn by funding charities and causes through crowdfunding. When you fund a charity it’s more like a donation & you get small innovative rewards like a shout-out on an FB page or a thank you email from the beneficiaries.
