Ekam Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) which primarily works to improve healthcare for children, took up cleaning of 1,122 healthcare facilities in the State last week as part of its effort to improve government hospitals.
The foundation plans to clean up 1,800 hospitals. The effort is part of the NGO’s move to upgrade facilities and build capacity in hospitals.
The foundation is authorised to train and monitor nurses appointed through its efforts. It has trained 2,000 nurses under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and maintains life-saving equipment in 64 newborn care centres.
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“We monitor the engineers in charge of the machines and in case of faulty equipment, they come for repairs in just 30 minutes,” said founder of the NGO, B. Sailakshmi.
The foundation works with 13 government departments, including NRHM, integrated child development services, EMRI 108 ambulance service and anganwadi workers.
The foundation, which also assists some organisations in maintaining kitchen gardens, is also involved in helping companies support the cause. Companies that express interest in such activities are encouraged to find extra help for government hospitals.
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Ekam has launched a helpline (9445922333) for those who wish to adopt a hospital. The donor can support by paying for drugs, laboratory equipment or adopt a child, said Dr. Sailakshmi.
A senior health department official said since government hospitals offer free treatment and are always short-staffed, help from organisations such as Ekam is accepted readily.